Ruse Horse

Bulgaria in EU: 1 January 2007, Monday. The festivities in Bucharest ended a day of celebrations when Bulgarian and Romanian officials lined up for hoisting together the flag of the European Union. The blue-and-gold-stars flag was hoisted 20 meters at a ceremony attended by President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and EU Parliament President Josep Borrell. It was the highlight of the planned events staged to mark the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania. In the Romanian capital Bucharest main boulevards were bedecked in blue lights. On the sidelines of outdoor events, there was a gala concert at the Athenaeum and a dinner given by Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu. It was attended also by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin. A guard of honour presented arms and a brass band played the EU anthem. The event ended in a sound and light show. The events organized by the Romanian Government will be attended by Baroness Emma Nicholson, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller, the Liberal Democrats' president in the European Parliament Graham Watson, German Parliament vice president Susanne Kastner, former chief of the European Commission Delegation in Bucharest Jonathan Scheele and Irish Environment Minister Dick Roche, T.D. Special guest to the celebrations will be also German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, whose country takes over the presidency of the EU at midnight. He is expected to arrive Monday on a visit to Bulgaria.

Ruse Bulgaria, Romania Hoist EU Flag Together