The 2nd annual Festival of Europe Scotland took place between May 3rd – 11th 2025, to celebrate the values and benefits of peace, democracy and cooperation amongst Europe’s nations, highlighting local links this year to Eastern Europe.
Growing from 5 events in 2024, to this year 21 programmed activities took place and ‘Our Star’ was an important talisman at many representing the shared foundational values of the EU of peace, freedom, collaboration, equality, rule of law, human rights and sustainability. The video below highlights a selection of the events and demonstrates the variety and quality of them and the strong bonds that exist between Scotland and Europe. Further information about the events is given in the sections following.
Launch of the ‘Polish Tour of Fife‘ – May 3rd 2025.
The Polish Tour of Fife is one of the ‘EuroWalks in Scotland’, created to emphasis the countries links with Europe and was developed by Paul Vsyny, Professor of History at St. Andrew’s University.
The self-guided Polish Tour of Fife commemorates the Polish armed forces, commanded by General Władysław Sikorski, who exiled to Scotland after the Nazi invasion of Poland and played key roles in providing coastal defence for the East Coast of Scotland throughout the war.
The Tour was launched by the symbolic joint “cutting of the ribbon” by the Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, and the Polish Consul General in Edinburgh, Łukasz Lutostański, at the Kirkcaldy Polish Club, coinciding with the Constitution Day holiday in Poland, which celebrates the first modern constitution in Europe, proclaimed in 1791.
‘Collaborate or compete’ at Panmure House – May 6th 2025
How are UK-EU relations serving key growth sectors?
Panmure House is the last home of Adam Smith and this seminar asked businesses and their advisors about their current experiences of UK-EU relations and their aspirations for the future.
Of particular interest, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at British Chambers (2nd from right) was optimistic about the reset of relations, although it may be a gradual process, as with Switzerland.
Europe Day Civic Reception – May 9th 2025
To mark Europe Day, Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost of Edinburgh held a civic reception for 120 with European Consuls, leaders from cultural sectors, business, academia and government and included the Junior Star as the talisman for the ideals of a reunited and peaceful Europe. The introductory speech from the Lord Provost was followed by the Chair of Festival of Europe Scotland, Mark Lazarowicz, both speeches emphasised how the benefits of solidarity and shared European values are strongly evident throughout Edinburgh and the importance of these values being underlined by the illegal and horrific invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The reception poignantly included music from the Edinburgh Ukrainian Choir, lead by choirmaster Karina Cherviakova. The performance was spectacular and the strength of European solidarity was dominant in the room.
Festival of Europe Scotland Weekend – 10 & 11th May 2025
A major series of events took place in the main auditorium at the French Institute Edinburgh. On the 10th, three conferences considered the current political circumstances starting with the Conference on the Future of European Democracy which explored the challenges facing liberal democracies in Europe by the far-right parties in Europe and whether citizens’ movements across Europe can work together to reform and revitalise the European project.
The second considered the Reset of relations between the EU and Scotland, with a focus on EMiS’ campaigns to bring back Erasmus and to obtain visa-free travel for UK artists in the EU, and for EU artists in the UK.
Finally, Beyond the UK, beyond the EU – what in the world lies ahead? discussed the economic and strategic challenge that the USA now presents to Europe in terms of security and stability and the effects on the non-aligned world beyond.
During the whole weekend ‘Our Star’ was placed on the stage for all 7 events and a European Movement social gathering that took place in the main auditorium.
EMiS’s Jo Goodburn again shared the background and significance of ‘Our Star’ as a talisman symbolising the values and aspirations of all Europeans for peace and unity.
Collective Arts events – 10 & 11th May 2025
On Saturday he 10th, a number of art events were held by the Beetroots Collective at the French Institute to highlight the cultural aspects of Scotland’s relationship with Europe. These events were supported by the Consulate General of Poland in Edinburgh and the European Parliament UK Liaison Office.
Firstly, a Family Craft Workshop using Polish traditional paper cut-outs (wycinanki) enabled the very young to share in European Unity. Later, two art films were premiered:
Miasto wolności (City of Freedom) is about joining and belonging to the EU, whilst Folktales for New Scots is a film created by EU migrants to Scotland.
The City of Freedom documentary film took the theme of joining and belonging to the European Union and its values, hopes and freedoms and presented insights into the Polish communities’ feelings in post-Brexit Scotland. The world premiere of Folktales for New Scots was an animated retelling of a traditional folktale from the Isle of Skye which was created by EU migrants during a series of workshops with the Collective’s artists.
Lastly, the first screening of
7 Symptoms of Belaruskast, presented a film that looks at Belarus, uncovering hidden treasures and presents Belarus as a missing link in the ring of stars and perhaps one day, the stars of Belarus and of Scotland will be part of the European Union.
Credits
Our Star has been provided by OurStar.org.uk as part of its support for UK-wide campaigns to reunite the UK with Europe.
All images of the ‘UK’s European Star of Unity and Peace‘ are copyright and used with permission. Other photographs and video clips have been provided with permission of Festival of Europe Scotland.
Page assembly and video production by Phil Jeanes, May 2025.