Building on a successful cooperation on last year’s Europe Day, the EU-Indonesia Business Network (EIBN) teamed up once again with the EU Delegation in Jakarta to organize the Europe Day Reception 2015 at the Dharmawangsa Hotel on Friday, 8 May 2015. This event was preceded by a diverse one-week programme of social-cultural activities for all ages, taking place throughout the same week in the city.

The Europe Day Reception was a celebration but also an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the European community and Indonesia, giving the opportunity to all guests to celebrate the deep commercial, cultural, political and historical links between the Union and Indonesia.

The Reception was attended by over 700 people from many circles of the European and Indonesian society, including Government representatives, diplomatic corps in Jakarta, business leaders, academia and the Media.

The celebration started with the Indonesian national anthem “Indonesia Raya” and the European Union anthem “Ode to Joy”. Mr. Colin Crooks, the Acting European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and ASEAN, welcomed the attendees with a brief speech and officially opened the ceremony with the traditional cake-cutting. He was accompanied by the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ignasius Jonan and the Head of National Development Planning Agency, Mr. Andrinof Chaniago, as well as all EU countries’ Ambassadors in Jakarta.

EIBN, in cooperation with its partners BritCham, Ekonid, Eurocham, IFCCI and INA, had the opportunity count on the sponsorship of prominent European businesses in Indonesia, which to sponsor the event. EIBN would like to thank these corporate partners, which key contribution helped make Europe Day a truly memorable celebration of Europe and EU-Indonesia relations.

In addition, EIBN was also present with its info booth, allowing for guests at the event to know more about our project and about the EU-Indonesia business cooperation as a result.

Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May every year, praising peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical 'Schuman Declaration', delivered in Paris in 1950 by Robert Schuman, then French Minister of Foreign Affairs. This famous speech is considered a pioneer moment for economic and political cooperation in Europe, postulating the impossibility of war between European nations and sowing the seed which was to become the European Union