Europe - past, present and future
Many European countries have marked the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Iron curtain and Germany remembered the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on the 9th of November 2009. At the same time, major discussions around the future direction of the EU have taken place.
Europe: commemorating the past
The fall of the Berlin Wall
On the 9th November 2009, Germany marked the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an act which led to the eventual unification of Germany.
- Read about the events surrounding the fall of the wall
- The UK was committed to German unification throughout the post-war period. Read more about the ties between Germany and the UK.
- Minister for Europe Chris Bryant marked the occasion by visiting the embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London. A wall of ice was constructed in front of the embassy to symbolise the events of twenty years ago. Watch the video below to hear Chris Bryant discuss the significance of this occasion.
Twenty years ago in Prague
A week after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the velvet revolution signaled the end of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia.
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the velvet revolution, staff at the British embassy in Prague gathered together photos, press clippings and accounts from employees working at the embassy before the fall of communism.
- Read the written accounts
- View British ambassador to the Czech Republic, Sian McLeod's blog which discusses the significance of this anniversary
- See the photos and press cuttings in the album below
View from the Holy See
On a similar theme, Francis Campbell, British Ambassador to the Holy See delivered a speech entitled 'Europe's mission in the world, twenty years after 1989'. Read the transcript here.
Europe: the present
New jobs in Europe:The Lisbon Treaty brings two major new jobs to the European Union. The President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. On the 19th November, European heads of state met to finalise the candidates for both roles. Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy was appointed as President and Baroness Ashton of Upholland, High Representative.
Find out more about what these important roles will deliver for the EU
More on what the Lisbon Treaty will do
Journey of a Treaty
Strong Britain in a Strong Europe
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband delivered his vision for Europe in a speech entitled 'Strong Britain in a Strong Europe', on Monday 26th October, at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
View highlights of the speech
Enlargement: Looking to the future
The European Commission has just published its annual strategy document on the process of enlargement. The document underlines the benefits of enlargement and emphasises that sustaining the current process of enlargement is of importance to the EU.
During the week of the 2nd November, the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband visited Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, two countries currently working towards EU membership.
Find out more about David Miliband's visit to Turkey and see photos of his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Find out more about enlargement.
