Press release, 3 April 2014
The European Ring will be planted in Vilnius University Botanical Garden in Kairėnai. On 7 April 2014, the national representatives and ambassadors of the European Union Parliaments visiting Vilnius will plant 28 European lindens, thus leaving a symbolic imprint of the largest ever parliamentary dimension event held in Lithuania.
“This is a very meaningful and symbolic action. Heads of EU national Parliaments are not to meet in Vilnius again soon. But when they do, taller and stronger linden will symbolise even greater experience in inter-parliamentary cooperation and unity of the Union”, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas says.
On 6–8 April 2014, the Seimas will host the event of the highest political level, the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments, to address inter-parliamentary cooperation and scrutiny matters. The Conference will conclude the series of events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. It is a traditional annual meeting, which is organised by the national Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency in the second semester of the year following the completion of its Presidency.
The European Ring is a joint initiative of the Seimas and the researchers of Vilnius University Botanical Garden. The initiative originated during the initial parliamentary dimension events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, some of which were organised in the Botanical Garden started back in 1781. As the biggest parliamentary dimension event was approaching, the researchers chose a special patch of land near the grove of English oaks, which was planted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Vilnius University. The researchers then designed this patch into a symbolic shape of 80 meters in diameter and acquired trees with a very symbolic name.
The European linden is a hybrid of two most widespread tree species on the European continent. Both the name in Lithuanian and in Latin contains the word “European” (lot. Tilia x europea). Linden trees are important for many European nations. In France and Switzerland a linden tree is a symbol of liberty, which is planted in battle sites. In Germany, it is a symbol of love and justice or a symbol of truth. In Poland, this tree is sacred and frequent in names of villages, such as Święta Lipka (Eng. Sacred Little Linden Tree). A linden tree is the national tree of Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Information for the media:
Those willing to go by bus provided by the Office of the Seimas are kindly asked to inform us by e-mail: [email protected]. The departure from Independence Square (close to Building 1 of the Seimas) is scheduled at 12.30 p.m. The bus will return to the Seimas at 2.30 p.m.
Artūras Zeleniakas, Public Relations Unit, Communications Department, Office of the Seimas
Tel. + 370 5 239 6201, e-mail: [email protected]
