David SASSOLI, EP President, and Christos DOULKERIDIS, Mayor of Ixelles, inaugurate the Citizens Garden in Brussels.

Brussels

speech

ceremony

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Inauguration of Citizens Garden by David SASSOLI, EP President, and Christos DOULKERIDIS, Mayor of Ixelles: extracts from the opening speeches and atmosphere

EP and Citizens Garden exterior view, Brussels, 2 shots

Arrivals and handshake between the EP President David SASSOLI and the Mayor of Ixelles Christos DOULKERIDIS, one shot

Opening of the Citizen Garden by David SASSOLI, 2 shots

EP President David SASSOLI, I'm really happy to be able to inaugurate with you the Citizens Park here at the former Wiertz House. An inauguration is always a symbolic act, very important, very powerful and it is a beginning and a starting point, something that comes to life and is projected into the future with confidence and hope.

EP President David SASSOLI,We have not suspended our being a community. The desire to be a community. All of this was, of course, not obvious and is the result of so many efforts that citizens and institutions together have made at this time.

EP President David SASSOLI,This is an example of splendid collaboration and of course with the Borgomaster Doulkeridis this work will continue in the months ahead.

EP President David SASSOLI,This is an example of how the institution, the European Parliament, wants to promote and enhance this garden. So that it's not just a lovely green space. But a small centre of social and cultural promotion where people can meet, find each other and be together.

EP President David SASSOLI, Starting from today, for the next two months, we will be holding a programme of small concerts, here in this garden, to fill this public space with beauty and art.

Mayor of Ixelles Christos DOULKERIDIS, This park must be an open place, a meeting place, and you have made the connection with the period we are going through, which is the Covid pandemic. I think you're perfectly right. Every crisis must enable us to learn lessons.

Mayor of Ixelles Christos DOULKERIDIS,The work of building confidence in a crisis such as the one we are experiencing is essential. This morning, we were happy to see that our children, the youngest at least, returning to school in the most normal way possible. Our society needs to find orientation.