“Minister Baerbock has an emotional advantage over me because she was here 20 years ago—I was not here but I was moved on that day with the fact that Poland finally found itself where it belongs: among friends, among allies, in Europe, at home,” said Minister Radosław Sikorski when addressing the participants of the event, including many young people who were born around the time Poland joined the EU.

“This is what generations of Poles fought for and the hopes that day, 20 years ago, aroused in us have been more than fulfilled,” added Minister Radosław Sikorski.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on many issues. During his address, the head of Polish diplomacy stressed that in the EU both Germans and Poles are safer, together decide on the shape of Europe and the whole Western civilisation. “I would like to make an appeal to our young friends—for us not to let anyone take away this right we have won,” he said.

The top Polish and German diplomats, accompanied by the then foreign ministers of the two countries, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz and Joschka Fischer respectively, together crossed the bridge on the Oder river, visiting an exhibition of photographs commemorating Poland’s accession to the European Union. To conclude the ceremony, the officials took part in a discussion with students of the European University Viadrina.

 

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