To mark the EU accession date, Poland's Prime Minister has called to defend a united Europe for future generations.
"Today is the 18th anniversary of our accession to the European Union. These days Poland and the whole of Europe are taking a real “maturity test,” Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted on Sunday.
“Being part of a united Europe was a dream of generations of Poles. We must defend this dream for future generations,” he wrote.
To celebrate the occasion, the Royal Łazienki Park in Warsaw is staging a “European Picnic” including parades, live music, games and reenactment shows. Admission to all events is free.
Poland’s left-wing opposition last week unveiled a new set of policies including the declaration of May 2 as a national public holiday to mark “Europe Day”.
“On May 2, we woke up in the European Union”, said Robert Biedroń, one of the leaders of The Left party, referring to Poland’s 2004 entry to the EU on May 1 (which is already a national holiday).
May 1, the day when Poland joined the EU in 2004 coincides with national holiday Labour Day.
As part of Labour Day celebrations, a march organised by left wing groupings such as the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the Razem party and the OPZZ trade union in support of “decent working conditions” launched on Sunday morning in Warsaw. The event is being held under the slogan “Peace, Work, Security”
The march will also be joint by regional trade unionists and left-wing activists
MP Adrian Zandberg, leader of Razem, earlier told the Polish PAP news agency that Poles would not celebrate a happy Labour Day.
"Food and housing prices as well as bills are rising. Polish workers have now their wallets thinner than last year," he said, adding that "The fear of tomorrow can again be felt in Polish homes."
Labour Day was officially celebrated with great fanfare by the communist authorities from 1950 until 1989 when the Polish People’s Republic collapsed. Now, most Poles treat the day as part of „Majówka” or May Holidays, the great getaway between May 1 and 3, which are both public holidays, with the 2nd commonly taken as a day off.
(mo)
Source: IAR, PAP