Europe | Day

Embassy Network | 10th July 2017

The Northern Chords Festival Orchestra performed European classics for the Europe Day concert at St John’s Smith Square

Maltese soprano Nicola Said

Acting Head of Representation of the European Commission in the UK Christine Dalby

The High Commissioner for Malta Mr Norman Hamilton welcomes guests to the Europe Day concert

Embassy Editor Elizabeth Stewart, Austrian Ambassador Dr Martin Eichtinger and the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Branko Neskovic

French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann is congratulated by her EU colleagues after the election victory of Emmanuel Macron

The IMO Secretary General Mr Kitack Lim and Deputy High
Commissioner for Malta Mr Mario Buttigieg

The Ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina Mr Branko Neskovic and the Ambassador of Estonia Mr Lauri Bambus

The Ambassador of Croatia Dr Ivan Grdesic, his wife Elena and the Ambassador of Serbia Dr Ognjen Pribicevic

The Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute Dorian Branea at the after party in the Crypt

Europe Day

At this year’s Europe Day, when the Northern Chords Orchestra struck up the chords to Beethoven’s Ode To Joy – the European Union’s anthem – there was a palpable sense of joy (and relief) in the audience. Just two days before, the newly elected and pro-European French President Emmanuel Macron had played it in a show of European solidarity after his election victory.

At the pre-concert reception, EU heads of mission swarmed around French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann to show their support after a tense election that had everyone on edge.

The Islands theme – chosen by Malta, which holds the Presidency – took in a broad sweep of European classical music, from Mozart to Mendelssohn, and was a poignant reminder that one of the great island nations in the EU is drifting away.

PHOTOS: WWWJAMESSMITHPHOTO