12 May 2026, New York – As the sun set over Manhattan, the European Union Delegation came alive with the sounds of jazz, the click of cameras, and the buzz of conversation during the annual Europe Day reception. This year’s event, hosted by Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, brought together nearly 300 high-level guests from across New York’s diplomatic community to celebrate peace, justice, and unity at the heart of the European Union and the United Nations.
Celebrating the EU’s “Declaration of Interdependence”
Europe Day marks the moment in 1950 when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the European Coal and Steel Community, to pool coal and steel production between historic rivals France and Germany with the aim to make war “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.” It was a radical act of trust, a “Declaration of Interdependence” that set Europe on a path to peace.
In his remarks, Ambassador Lambrinidis noted the intertwined histories of the EU and the UN, grounded in the same core tenets: peace, cooperation, solidarity, economic development, human rights, and the rule of law.
This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice, a beacon of what the EU and UN share: the belief that law, not force, must govern nations. Emphasizing that since the international legal order faces its greatest pressure since World War II, the ICJ’s role has never been more critical, Ambassador Lambrinidis invited UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld to address the guests.
EU-UN Partnerships: Building Trust from Ideals to Actions
The evening was an EU family affair, with six Member States — Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, and Romania — co-hosting the event and providing epicurean delights from their countries.
Selected for their role in facilitating critical UN processes, each of the co-hosts embody the EU’s aspiration to constantly strive to build trust and partnership, especially in these divided times.
Belgium: Championing Gender Equality
“Few delegations bring more conviction to gender equality than Belgium,” the Ambassador noted. As Vice-President of the UN Women Executive Board, Belgium is fighting back against rollbacks on women’s rights worldwide.
Estonia: Digital Diplomacy in the AI Age
Estonia—home to one of the world’s most advanced digital governments—is co-chairing the First Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
Finland: Countering Terrorism, Upholding Rights
Finland is co-facilitating the 9th review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy—for the second time.
Ireland: Justice for Crimes Against Humanity
Ireland is chairing the PrepCom for the Conference on Crimes Against Humanity. At a time when international law is under siege, this work has never been more vital.
Malta: Strengthening the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Malta’s Ambassador Natasha Meli is co-facilitating the ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum review, ensuring the UN’s development platforms stay action-oriented and inclusive.
Romania: Shaping the Future of UN Development
Romania presides over the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS—the heart of the UN’s development system—at a pivotal moment for the SDGs.
“What Is Europe to You?” – A Photographic Narrative
Through artist Lisa Borgiani’s exhibition What is Europe to You? this year’s guests were reminded of the diversity of emotions and ideas that Europe represents, not only to Europeans, but also to our neighbours and colleagues at the UN. As part of the evening celebrating diversity, Lisa invited guests to step into her “photo booth”, snap a selfie, and share what Europe means to them.
Jazz Under the Stars and Hip Hop to Keep the Energy Up
The evening, which opened with jazz guitarist Matthias Loescher’s rendition of “Ode to Joy,” the EU’s official anthem, closed with guests dancing to our custom Europe Day NYC playlist.
