A European Picnic in Belém: Recreating History and Sharing Memories

On a sunny afternoon on July 5, the Vasco da Gama Garden in Lisbon became a stage for cultures to meet. EUxFUTURE organized its first community picnic, an event that brought together 16 people from countries as diverse as Romania, Portugal, the US, Israel, Angola, the UK, France, Poland, Germany, and Ecuador.

The goal was twofold: to celebrate European diversity and to symbolically recreate the photograph of the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, which took place in 2007 at the iconic Jerónimos Monastery, right next door. After a warm welcome and a shared meal, Ermelindo Quaresma, from the AAUTS organization, presented the EUxFUTURE project, emphasizing its mission to connect citizens through their common history.

The highlight was the photo shoot. In front of the monastery, the group recreated the spirit of unity of that historic moment, showing that Europe is made up of the people who live there. The invitation for participants to bring their own photos and memories resulted in touching moments. One participant shared his experience of an Interrail trip in the 1990s, a living example of the benefits of free movement and integration that the European Union has provided.

The picnic was a perfect example of the power of informal events to promote dialogue. The relaxed atmosphere allowed for spontaneous conversations about the Treaty of Lisbon, the history of the EU, and future challenges. The diversity of nationalities present enriched the discussion, transforming a simple picnic into a true experience of active European citizenship. The event demonstrated that the history of Europe is not only in the treaties, but in the shared experiences, the friendships that are formed, and the bonds that unite us.

This inspiring event serves as a model for future EUxFUTURE community activities. We want to continue creating spaces where European history can be discussed openly and accessibly. The next step will be to take these conversations to our round tables and photo exhibition, where we will delve deeper into the topics that arose during this meeting.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.