21 Years in the European Union: EU Day in Budapest

Free concerts, a traditional Europe Day running race, quizzes and a variety of activities attracted thousands of visitors to Budapest's downtown Szabadság Square on Sunday to celebrate 21 years of EU membership. 3,436 people completed the race, which was 21 kilometers long this year to mark the anniversary, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Hungary said in a press release.

Sunday's festival began with the “21 Years - 21 km - EU Run”, a barrier-free race which saw 1,631 individual runners and 650 relay teams of two or three people complete the distance. Among others, three-time Olympic champion water polo player Dr. Gergely Kiss and Olympic silver and bronze medal swimmer László Cseh were among the runners. They were joined by actress Diána Nyári and dancer Júlia Széphalmi. Along the route of the race, participants were also able to discover 21 successful EU developments: one from each of the 19 counties, one from Budapest and one of the winning projects of the 2024 RegioStars competition.

Visitors to the event were welcomed by a number of different organizations, including the EU institutions, Europe Point, the Hungarian Climate Alliance and the Creative Europe Bureau. Visitors were able to find out about topics such as maintaining our quality of life, promoting social justice, supporting young people, Europe's role in the world and what the EU does for people in an exciting and playful way. They could learn how the EU ensures that people can thrive in a safe, peaceful, competitive, cohesive and economically sustainable society in times of geopolitical turmoil and major global economic and social challenges.

This year's Europe Day event was opened by Gábor Zupkó, Head of the European Commission Representation in Hungary and Zoltán Tarr MEP (Tisza, EPP). A representative of the ruling Fidesz party was also scheduled to address the participants but eventually, he did not attend the event.

Zoltán Tarr, Member of the European Parliament (Tisza, European People's Party) emphasized that "Europe is an intellectual, cultural and human community. It is a shared home. It is the place where our founding king, Saint Stephen, intended Hungary to be."

"For many people, the EU is an abstract idea, an institutional system or a political news item. But the European Union is really us, all of us. That is why it is important that at least once a year we EU citizens celebrate each other. This is one of the things this day is about. But today we also celebrate the fact that Hungary joined the European Union 21 years ago, so today we can celebrate the achievements and values that the European Union means to us, including EU freedom, local development and the development of our country." - said Gábor Zupkó, Head of the European Commission Representation in Hungary.

During the day, there were not only information tents but also a number of activities for families and those interested in music.  Márk Járai (Halott Pénz) and Co Lee also gave a concert, while András Lovasi, frontman of Kispál and the Borz and Kiscsillag, performed a special “one-string” show. Younger children were entertained by a whole day of board games, exciting art workshops, special interactive story time and children's concerts. On the stage at Szabadság Square, Krisztián Grecsó and the Pici Szív Dance Band, the Bori Ruttkai Band, the Apacuka Orchestra and the children could also watch a puppet show by the Majorka Theater.

The Europe Day events were organized by the European Commission Representation in Hungary and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Hungary.