Looking at a five-year perspective, do you think that EU membership is for Poland:

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On the picture: "Let’s paint over the world together", Justyna Bańkowska, Lyceum of Fine Arts in Supraśl – III form
Work awarded a prize in photo contest "Poland in the European Union. Five years have passed"

The Run ‘From May 3rd 1791 Constitution to the European Union’

Nearly 1 600 people participated in the Warsaw run under the motto “From the May 3rd Constitution to the European Union”

Record number of registered runners appeared at Myśliwiecka street sharp at 11 a.m. to start a five-kilometre route of a run; 1575 runners and 43 Nordic walkers. The first to reach finish line was Jakub Wiśniewski in a time of 00:15:13, the best result on the women’s side belonged to Agnieszka Sypek Malinowska, who arrived at the finish in a time of 00:19:29.

An idea of the run was to commemorate the anniversaries of two historic events important for Poland: adoption of Constitution of May 3rd in 1791 and joining the EU by Poland on May 1st 2004.

At the start of the race the group of persons in historical 18th century costumes turned up. They represented symbolically the signatories of Constitution of May 3rd. Numerous participants of the run started holding the flags and wearing commemorative T shirts with starting numbers.

The trail of the run was divided into 27 stretches, which were marked with flags of the EU member states in the order they joined the Community. A history of the European integration was described by national symbols. The kilometre signposts were also a history lesson, since after covering the first kilometre the runners could see the date of signing the Treaty of Rome, the second kilometre marking related to the collapse of communism in Poland, the third referred to an opening of accession negotiations of Poland with the EU, the fourth reminded of the date of Poland’s joining the EU. After covering a distance of five kilometres and reaching a finish line the runners were welcomed by symbolic representation referring to the fifth anniversary of Poland’s presence in the EU.

In the vicinity the finish of the run in the Agrykola Park Office of the Committee for European Integration organised the European Fair.

Everybody visiting the stands of the OCEI, the European Commission, the EP Information Office, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of National Education, the National Bank of Poland, the General Police Headquarters of Poland, the City Hall of Warsaw, non-governmental organisations and embassies of the EU member states could learn the way of functioning of modern and citizens’ friendly administration, history of the EU as well as culture and traditions of the EU member states. The organizers have prepared numerous attractions i.e.: competitions on the EU and the European funds, performances by artists, piecing together an enormous jigsaw puzzle, a bean bag race, a show of trained Customs’ dogs, an exhibition of cars.

Minister Mikołaj Dowgielewicz and Prof. Danuta Huebner were guests of the OCEI’s stand.


1

See leaflet (in Polish only)

2

See poster (in Polish only)