The ceremony for presenting the Council of Europe’s Flag of Honour began with a press conference attended by Wilfried Böhm, an honorary member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Lilla Jaroń, secretary of the voivodeship at the marshal’s office. “I have had the pleasure and opportunity to present this award to Polish cities many times,” Böhm said. “I would like to emphasise the fact that it is a German European who is presenting the flag to a Polish city.”
Bolesławiec was among 18 cities in Europe (and four in Poland) that received this prestigious award this year. The European Flag is the second of the Council of Europe’s four honorary awards. The first—the European Diploma—was presented to Bolesławiec in June 2008.
The official part of the ceremony took place in the Market Square. “I have the great honour of presenting you and all the residents of Bolesławiec with the Council of Europe’s Flag of Honour and conveying greetings on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,” Wilfried Böhm said in his speech. “Recognising the problems of everyday life, and seeking solutions and compromises, is the responsibility of citizens—women and men—with a European passport. In addition to solutions at the political level, it is citizens who make the arduous contribution to building a Europe of citizens. The Council of Europe hopes that relations between as many cities and regions as possible will continue to grow closer and intensify.”
After the flag-raising ceremony, participants marched to Popiełuszki Square, where the European Picnic began at 10:00. Until noon, the stage featured performances including those by children from Bolesławiec kindergartens and students from city schools.
The picnic will continue until late evening. At 16:30, Method Massiv, the most active local soundsystem, will perform for the people of Bolesławiec. This will be followed on stage by hip-hop artists from Massey, Michał Karpacki, one of the finalists of the third edition of the “Idol” programme, and the blues band Obstawa Prezydenta. The ceremony will conclude with a fireworks display.
(information ii)