Slovenia's Culture Day marked in Belgium
Brussels, 6 February - The Slovenian community in Belgium marked the upcoming Culture Day, observed on 8 February, with a ceremony in Brussels on Wednesday evening, after an exhibition of portraits of key Slovenian historical figures opened at the European Parliament in the afternoon. On Thursday, a ceremony was also held at a monument in the European Quarter.
The ceremony, held at the new premises shared by the Slovenian Embassy in Belgium and the Permanent Mission to the EU, was addressed by Ambassador Barbara Sušnik and featured students who study Slovenian at European School Brussels I.
The ambassador said 2025 will be an extraordinary year for Slovenian culture, as the town of Nova Gorica and its Italian neighbour, Gorizia, will hold the title of the European Capital of Culture.
"For the first time in the history of this prestigious title, two cities in different countries, on different sides of the border, will show that culture knows no boundaries and that future lies in integration, dialogue and overcoming differences."
Earlier in the day, an exhibition by painter Izidor Tomaž Perko opened at the European Parliament.
The Golden Ratio exhibition features portraits of key personalities in Slovenia's history and culture, among them poet France Prešeren, writer Ivan Cankar, Reformation figure Primož Trubar and painter Ivana Kobilca.
The exhibition is about far more than the paintings, said MEP Irena Joveva (Renew/Freedom Movement), who organised the display. It presents the story of a nation that has survived, grew and contributed to the common European heritage, she said.
Perko said the show was created for the 10th anniversary of Slovenia's EU membership in 2014 at the initiative of Marta Kos, who served as the ambassador to Germany at the time, and is now the EU commissioner for enlargement.
Addressing the event, Commissioner Kos said that Slovenia is not a very old country, but Slovenians as a nation have survived thanks to their language and their culture.
The event was also attended by Ambassador Sušnik, Permanent Representative to the EU Iztok Jarc and several Slovenian MEPs.
Today, a ceremony to mark Culture Day was organised by MEP Milan Zver (EPP/SDS) at a monument bearing the first verse of Slovenia's anthem, written by Prešeren, in all official languages of the EU.
The monument was a gift to Brussels from Slovenia during the country's first EU presidency in 2008, and has been the site of Culture Day ceremonies fifteen times.
Addressing the event, Zver said that in contrast to most other anthems written in the 19th century, The Toast called for cooperation among nations. "That is a strong message from Prešeren. It's something other anthems do not have and it's something to be proud of."