Ode to Joy rings out at Polish Parliament
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
01.07.2011 11:47
Parliamentarians sang Poland’s national anthem, and EU anthem Ode to Joy, at the Polish Parliament, Friday morning, as part of the opening celebrations of Poland’s six-month EU Presidency.
Prime Minister Tusk, Deputy PM Pawlak and Foreign Minister Sikorski in parliament, Friday; photo - PAP/Tomasz Gzell
In attendance were members of both houses of parliament, the Sejm and Senate, and leader of the Hungarian parliament Laszlo Kover, as Budapest hands over the baton of the presidency to Warsaw today.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Speaker of the House Grzegorz Schetyna.
President Bronislaw Komorowski then told MPs and senators that “Following the fall of the Iron Curtain the EU gave us a chance for a better future.
“Our unique road has led from the Warsaw Pact to EU Presidency,” Komorowski said.
President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek also gave his blessings to the six-month presidency via video link from Brussels.
At 13.00 CET President Komorowski will greet President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy at Belweder Palace. (pg)