Press release, 7 April 2014
The European Ring has been planted in the Vilnius University Botanical Garden in Kairënai today. National representatives of the European Union Parliaments visiting Vilnius together with their countries’ ambassadors have planted 28 European lindens, thus leaving a symbolic imprint of the largest ever parliamentary dimension event held in Lithuania.
“It is highly significant that the last parliamentary dimension event within the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU – the Conference of Speakers of European Union Parliaments – is commemorated not only by political decisions. The total of 28 European linden trees have been planted here, in the Vilnius University Botanical Garden today, which symbolise a united and harmonious family of European nations that Lithuania joined 10 years ago,” Jonas Milerius, Secretary General of the Seimas said in his welcoming speech.
The Secretary General expressed hope that the delicate-appearing linden trees would have deep roots and form dense crowns of branches, which will merge into a tight ring to serve as a symbol witnessing the significance of consistent counseling and cooperation of EU Member States. “For this is an indisputable, basic value of the countries that have chosen a democratic way, and we must consistently cherish this value and maintain it in a responsible manner,” he said.
Prof. Habil. Dr Jűras Banys, acting Rector of Vilnius University, suggested it was quite symbolic that the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union was solemnly commenced in the Grand Courtyard of Vilnius University and completed in the Vilnius University Botanical Garden.
H.E. Mr Michael Efstratios Daratzikis, Ambassador of Greece that currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and H.E. Mr Stefano Maria Taliani de Marchio, Ambassador of Italy that will take over the Presidency from Greece, have also addressed participants of the event.
The European Ring is a joint initiative of the Seimas and the researchers of the 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 metres 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 Úwićta Lipka (Eng. Sacred Little Linden Tree). A linden tree is the national tree of Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
On 6–8 April 2014, the Speakers of European Union Parliaments, who have gathered to the highest political level event – the Conference – to address coordination of the inter-parliamentary cooperation and scrutiny matters within the EU, 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.
Nerijus Vëta, Public Relations Unit, Communications Department, Office of the Seimas,
tel. +370 5 239 6208, e-mail: [email protected]
