Ukraine took another step toward Europe last Saturday, adjusting its sizable calendar of holidays to one practiced by EU countries, introducing in it the Day of Europe. Its premiere was unexpected and quite informative for the Ukrainian public. First, it showed that our people are fond of printed matter, judging by how they picked up the brochures, booklets, and leaflets displayed in the tents of the European town on Khreshchatyk. Their enthusiasm matched that of adventurers spotting maps showing the road to priceless treasures. People crowded and pushed their way through to get such literature with an Italian temperament, but would then quickly dump their trophies. By two p.m., European Square and part of Khreshchatyk looked like the scene of a demolished print shop.
The paper debris was also graphic evidence of Ukrainian- European likes and dislikes. Thus, the European Commission’s stand was the obvious leader. Here everyone could receive charts showing precisely what Europe has been doing for Ukraine. For example, 468.2 million euros for the TACIS program’s budget, which some found hard to believe. “If we had all that money we’d surely be living a better life,” a middle-aged gentleman remarked, walking away from the stand.
Finally, the event showed that Ukrainians prefer bread to circuses. Turkish baklava and lentil chops disappeared from the stands within an hour, while few took an interest in a quintet playing Mozart by the Austrian stand.
In fact, the very idea of this festive event remained a mystery to many, despite an active advertising effort. Approaching the epicenter, people would rake their brain, trying to figure out why. Oleh Astafyev, 25, when asked whether the event would bring Europe any closer to the Ukrainians, asked in return, “Why? Do they celebrated the Day of Kyiv in Europe too?” And so a sort of briefing held on European Square (previously known as Proletarian and later as Komsomol Square) proved very timely and useful. The opening ceremony attracted a thin crowd that applauded every word. Some even wrote down the number of European representations in Ukraine and the number of agreements signed by Ukraine (these turned out students of the Shevchenko National University). Getting ahead of the story, the What do You Know about Europe? contest proved an utter failure. Held in the evening, it gathered a team numbering about a dozen of individuals more or less sure about their knowledge. An embarrassing pause followed the question about whether Europe was a political or geographic notion. Eventually, they agreed that it was both. When asked the name of the EU Secretary General, they had to guess it letter by letter and their suggestions ranged from Oleh Skrypka to Elton John. The team felt confident only about the number of stars on the EU flag, as it was displayed everywhere next to the Ukrainian one.
People actually representing Europe (those manning the tents of the EU countries) were amused by what they saw and heard. A young lady refused to identify herself but said that her boss was first scared by the Ukrainian activity in the European direction, fearing they wouldn’t have enough in store, but that he felt a little better afterward, figuring that it was probably due to the approaching holiday season, with people deciding where they would spend their vacations.
Late in the evening, people leaving the place voiced their disgust about the militia cordons blocking access to some Metro stations. “Just imagine; now we’ll have to put up with this every Saturday,” I heard a voice in the crowd. Someone replied that it wouldn’t probably happen every Saturday, only the third one in May, meaning once a year. That voice obviously did not sound convincing, countered by another: “Now we won’t be able to go to Khreshchatyk on weekends...”
