MAKE EUROPE BLOOM | The time is Now! - Union of European Federalists

The first mural of the project was painted in the city of Valencia. For this we had an exceptional location: one of the façades of the Museo Faller. The mural is perfectly visible from the City of Arts and Sciences, as it is located just 500 meters from this emblematic enclave for Valencia.

On this special occasion, artist Antonyo Marest transferred the vision of the citizens, surveyed through a form, about the idea of "Democracy" as well as the representation of Valencia in the mural. The mural contains several symbols that refer to the European Union, some as explicit as the twelve stars of our blue flag, the allegories to the balance of justice or the flame of hope. Federalism is represented thanks to the crocodile, symbol of the Crocodile Club and current Spinelli Group in the European Parliament. The central drawing, a metaphor of Valencia's role as a bridge to the European Union, does not go unnoticed. In fact, this project also wants to stress that the triangle formed by civil society, politicians and citizens of the EU is essential to communicate and debate Europeans affairs, as well as involve citizens in them.

Not only this mural seeks to give visibility and dynamism to the city of Valencia and its culture, but also to project the history and commitment of the city and the Valencian Community to the European values of equality, solidarity, diversity and tolerance.

The inauguration of the mural on 3 July, on the occasion of the XXVII UEF Congress, was attended by political representatives of the Valencian Community, such as the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Mr. Vicent Marzà, the Mayor of Valencia Mr. Joan Ribó, the Secretary for the EU and External Relations Mr. Joan Calabuig, along with the Director of Culture and Heritage Ms. Carmen Amoraga and the Director of the Consortium of Museums of the Valencian Community Mr. José Luis Pérez Pons. The event was also attended by Mr. Enrique Barón, UEF Spain President and former president of the European Parliament.

Political representatives of the European Parliament also travelled from Brussels: Vice-President Fabio Massimo Castaldo, CoFoE co-chair and MEP Guy Verhofstadt, and MEPs Sandro Gozi and Domènec Ruiz Devesa, president and vice-president of UEF respectively. Jürgen Foecking, Deputy Director of the European Parliament Office in Spain also visited the mural.

The presence of the authorities along the production phase of the mural and their interventions attracted the attention of media such as A Punt, elDiario.es or Cadena SER.

The second mural of the project was painted in the city of Strasbourg in the heart of the Esplanade campus of the University of Strasbourg and inaugurated to the public on 9 May 2022, Europe Day.

The creation of the mural was part of the Strasbourg Summit programme, which brought together all the actors of European civil society from 5 to 8 May, as well as of the Lieu d’Europe project of the City of Strasbourg.

The inauguration was attended by local representatives, among which: Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg in charge of Local Democracy, Citizens' Initiatives and Participation Ms Carole Zielinski, Vice-president of the European Collectivity of Alsace Mr Nicolas Matt, President of the University of Strasbourg Mr Michel Deneken, Vice-President of the University of Strasbourg Mr Mathieu Schneider. Local sections of the UEF and citizens took part in the event.

The mural in Strasbourg authored by Antonyo Marest consists of two side-by-side frescoes that interact with each other. Its creation on Strasbourg’s university campus makes it an excellent channel for communication and reflection for students and citizens.

On the left mural, the slogan 'Make Europe Bloom' can be seen in the bottom right- hand corner, the name of the project. Its font and colour scheme recalls the colours of the European flag, translating a symbol into a call to action.

On the right fresco, symbolism takes precedence over words, where two stars, one emerging and one being born, are incorporated into the scene to become part of the larger symbol that represents freedom, unity, and strength of free countries, alongside the flag of the European Union.

The artist is aware of the current situation in Ukraine and of its urgency. Identity symbols characterised by graphic icons such as the scales, laurel, bridges or clasping hands, chosen by the people who took part in the survey, have lost their meaning and have been decontextualised in their figuration. It plants the vibrant return of the notion and essence of Europe.

With these frescoes, the artist has chosen to synthesise as much as possible the diversity and differences between our countries, as well as those that are found in each of us as complementary members of a complex society. Beyond shapes and colours, this singularity fits perfectly into a social map where no State can exercise a hegemony of criteria of size, strength, or intensity. It is a composition that, as a social map, shows us the maximum exponent of our rights, the greatest of virtues, the capacity for integration and growth.

The establishment of equality between citizens and Member States makes our society more democratic, fairer, more progressive and, above all, it creates a reference for the future to attract new countries to the path towards a better future.

The third mural of the project was painted in the city of Tartu by Anastasiia Lemberg-Lvova in cooperation with the Tartu- based start-up “Robot Muralist”, in the Hansa School of Tartu and inaugurated to the public on 28 May 2022.

The artist expresses that even though some governments in the world want to put an end to democracy and humanistic values, the European Union, which citizens identify with ideas such as care and growth, plays a fundamental role in the world as a symbol of the Enlightenment values and human rights.

The inauguration was attended by Tartu's Mayor Urmas Klaas, a choir of schoolchildren, teachers and parents (although it was a day without school), and members of the Johan Skytte Institute.

The inauguration was then followed by a political discussion about the future of Europe, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, also heartedly attended by the artist Ms Anastasiia Lemberg-Lvova, who took an active part in them, and the Director of the school. A first debate (in English) was led by Ms Marina Kaljurand (MEP). A second one, moderated by Ms Kristiina Tõnnisson, Director of the Institute, consisting of a round table discussion (in Estonian) on “The Future of Europe – Views from Estonia and Tartu”, including Estonian politicians Ms Kristina Kallas, leader of the Eesti 2000 party.

The artist and the mural

Our artist in Estonia, Anastasiia Lemberg-Lvova, conceived her work based on the more than 80 responses from the city’s residents to a local preliminary survey made available in Estonian, Russian and English. She turned their ideas into reality and painted a mural on a blind wall at the Hansa School of Tartu.

Her artwork, simple in its essence, reflects what local citizens think about the future of global Europe, taking into account the current context, especially the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Nobel Prize for Literature, Pablo Neruda wrote: "They can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming".

Likewise, our artist wants to express that even though some governments in the world want to put an end to democracy and humanistic values, the European Union, which citizens identify with ideas such as care and growth, plays a fundamental role in the world as a symbol of the Enlightenment values and human rights.

Although the flower on the mural is cut, it continues to bloom thanks to the hand that represents the European citizens who touch and care for it, whilst the water inside the jar symbolises the strength of values of the EU, where it continues to take root.

For the practical implementation, due to the layout of the premises and, in particular, the height of the wall in question, instead of using problematic high mobile scaffoldings, she rightly chose to use the innovative technology provided by the Tartu-based start-up “Robot Muralist”.

Local overall event in Tartu

In close co-operation with the Union of European Federalists, it has been co- ordinated and co-organised by the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies (of the University of Tartu), managed locally by Prof. Stefano Braghiroli and Ms Anna Beitane.

The “Make Europe Bloom” event of Tartu culminated on Saturday 28 May 2022, firstly outside the Hansa School with the formal inauguration of the mural by Tartu's Mayor Urmas Klaas, attended by a choir of schoolchildren, teachers and parents (although it was a day without school), and members of the Johan Skytte Institute.

Debates followed on the school premises, in a conference area, about the future of Europe, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, also heartedly attended by the artist Ms Anastasiia Lemberg-Lvova, who took an active part in them, and the Director of the school. A first debate (in English) was led by Ms Marina Kaljurand (MEP). A second one, moderated by Ms Kristiina Tõnnisson, Director of the Institute, consisting of a round table discussion (in Estonian) on “The Future of Europe – Views from Estonia and Tartu”, including Estonian politicians Ms Kristina Kallas, leader of the Eesti 2000 party (leftwing and pro-European Union) since its foundation, and Ms Gea Kangilaski, an Estonian politician, feminist and civil rights activist, member of the Estonian Social Democratic Party, Deputy Mayor of Tartu, with many contributions from the audience. It was eventually followed by a discussion (in English), widely illustrated with numerous photographic examples, about the power of images in politics, moderated by Messrs Mike Cole and Sami Siva.

Conclusive comments

Parts of those debates that were expressed in Estonian were translated in English for the sake of non-Estonian speaking people.

It results from the debates that the war in Ukraine has had a strong effect on the Estonian public opinion. Not only Russia is seen as a threat as it had been for years, but it is now perceived as a major threat for the EU as a whole. The consequence of this is that, while ties with Ukraine are consciously tightening, so is the feeling of a community of fate with the other EU members. Frankly, however, the notion of European federalism remains somewhat alien to the short and medium term perspectives of Estonians, to say the least.

In this view, it could not be expected that stronger opinions than the following could be officially expressed by the local political leaders: “the actual meaning of “Making Europe Bloom” as much as “Making Estonia or Tartu bloom” is very much up to the European citizens to define. For some, it might mean more equality, for others more attention to environment, or economic success. Regardless of what it means for each one of us, what matters is that European co-operation and unity, both as a political project and as an idea, can support the local communities to further develop in the way and in the direction that they see fit.”

The fourth mural of the project was painted in the city of Lublin by Volodymyr Manzhos, at ulica Jasna 3, close to “Krakowskie Przedmieście” street and visible from it and inaugurated to the public on 24 June 2022, almost simultaneously with the announcement by the European Council of the decision on candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova.

The mural reflects the feelings expressed by Lublin citizens, the protest against the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The inauguration was attended by local representatives, among which important members of the City Council of Lublin, noticeably Mr Krzysztof Stanowski, personally in charge of organising and managing the City’s aid to Ukrainians and Ukraine.

The inauguration was then followed by a political discussion in the conference room of the Wieniawski Hotel of Lublin about “The Future of the EU, in the context of the war in Ukraine”.

The artist and the mural

The artist in Lublin, Volodymyr Manzhos, also known internationally as WAONE Intersni Kazki (in Ukrainian, “Intersni Kazki” means "Interesting tales"), is a famous surreal and symbolic Ukrainian Muralist artist since 1999, based in Kyiv, a committed artist with an immense artistic and philosophical culture who works all over the globe.

His achievements include dozens of murals including in several European big cities, examples of which can be found here, as well as books exploring the relationships between arts and philosophy, while also illustrating covers of books by other authors. WAONE was extremely glad to obtain special authorisations and encouragements from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to allow him to come to Lublin and stay there the time that was necessary to complete his works for the Make Europe Bloom project. It turned up that the wall on which he was invited by the City of Lublin to paint his new mural was the one on which ten years previously to the day he personally had already painted a previous one ("Metafizyczne Pudelko") for the Ukrainian edition in Lublin of the Culture Night event, but that was now so degraded that it had to be removed.

Needless to say that at this time when his homeland was so savagely and inhumanly attacked and partly occupied by Russia, his motivation to commit himself to reflect in a mural the concerns of the Lublin people cannot be questioned. The Lublin City involvement in aiding the Ukrainian people, both refugees and those staying at home and who for many are bravely fighting the invader, is exemplary and deserves to be stressed and lauded. The location of the mural is very visible from the busy “Krakowskie Przedmieście” street. while it was being made, many passers-by stopped and commented loudly and joyfully on the emerging mural.

Local events in Lublin

In close co-operation with the Union of European Federalists, they have been managed by Mr Wojciech Przybylski and Ms Magdalena Jakubowska from the Visegrad Insight organisation, also respectively President and Vice-President of the Polish think tank Res Publica Foundation. The very active Visegrad Insight organisation had previously been a partner of UEF in the “Democracy is Europe” project. All the politicians invited to take part were strong supporters of the European project and, needless to say, opponents in a way or another of the current Polish government, at least on that ground. Both events shared the same theme of the Future of the EU, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine.

Reflecting the feelings expressed by Lublin citizens, the mural, an obvious protest against the Russian aggression against Ukraine, has been inaugurated on site (ulica Jasna 3) on 24 June 2022, almost simultaneously with the announcement by the European Council of the decision on candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, in the presence of important members of the City Council of Lublin, noticeably Mr Krzysztof Stanowski, personally in charge of organising and managing the City’s aid to Ukrainians and Ukraine.

The inauguration was then followed by a political discussion [in Polish] in the conference room of the Wieniawski Hotel of Lublin about “The Future of the EU, in the context of the war in Ukraine”.

The invited guests to the debate were MEP Krzysztof Hetman, Senator Jacek Bury, Tetyana Poliak-Grujić, Head of Eastern Partnership Projects at Visegrad Insight, Krzysztof Stanowski, Director of the International Cooperation Office of the City of Lublin, with Wojciech Przybylski, Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight and President of the Res Publica Foundation as the moderator.

With, as a background, the Covid-19 pandemic and Putin's aggression against Ukraine that have ushered in a new era for Europe. This calls for more proactive European action in various policy areas, such as health, economic and social recovery, foreign policy, defence and security, energy and migration, among others.

In this context, the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), a process in which European citizens have had the opportunity to debate Europe's challenges and priorities, takes on even greater importance.

The debate focused on the European Union's response to the war in Ukraine, as well as the contribution of the central and eastern EU Member States to the Conference on the Future of Europe, and the role of citizens, the civil society as a whole, and the Polish political class can play in practice to continue to help show solidarity to Ukraine.

Concluding comments

The atmosphere, both at the inauguration of the mural per se, and during the subsequent debate has been very positive, unsurprisingly pro-EU, patently.

However, in this part of the EU, concerns about the war in Ukraine naturally always keep at the forefront, being perceived as a constant threat for the neighbouring countries to Russia. They reshape and perhaps even supersede well-known pre- existing issues in the relationship with the EU. The situation in Ukraine acts as an unavoidable filter through which to view the Future of Europe and the EU. Eventually, the notion of European federalism has not been an item in the debate.

Not unexpectedly, the invitation to both events posted on their Facebook page by the organisers has triggered bitter reactions from political opponents.

MAKE EUROPE BLOOM: the Time is Now! is a project organised by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and co- funded by the European Parliament.

This project is being carried out in the context of a political campaign at both European and national levels to raise awareness on the importance of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), as a framework in which to advance the reforms that can create the conditions and changes that citizens are demanding.

Officially launched on Europe Day 2021 together with our Appeal "Our Federal Europe: sovereign and democratic", MAKE EUROPE BLOOM: the Time is Now! is carrying out activities in different European cities. Murals are being created until June 2022 all across Europe.

Building on President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen’s 2020 State of the Union speech, this project is also contributing to setting up the new European Bauhaus by mirroring citizens’ feelings on Europe through art.

In order to meet our innovative approach, we count on renown urban artists that accompany us to the locations helping us to make Europe bloom with their art. Our idea is based on replicating a series of the large-scale “The Future is Europe” mural on Rue de la Loi in the European neighbourhood of Brussels. This time, the murals are being drawn in places where EU-related conversations do not normally happen.

From creation to dissemintation

The creative process consists of two phases:

1. PRE-PRODUCTION: an online survey is distributed to local and intergenerational participants, local artists and those who wish to participate in this activity through our national sections and partners. Artists then create something from the results of the survey;

2. PRODUCTION: the mural is finalised with the participation of locals. UEF liaises with local authorities, EP (liaison) offices, chambers of commerce and local private entities in order to place the murals in the most effective and visible places.

Venues that host the murals are visited by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), national decision makers and representatives from civil society. A cross- party group of MEPs, especially members of UEF Europe and The Spinelli Group in the European Parliament, and those from the country or region concerned are encouraged to participate in each local event.

A final report will be written and translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and the local languages of the events. The final content will be shared and disseminated in our network. Likewise, we plan to organise an exhibition in the European Parliament with the graphic content from this project, making into a virtual exhibition on our website.

In doing so, we will not only bring the Conference on the Future of Europe (#CoFoE) debates and outcomes to locations where they do not normally take place, we will also help our organisation, the huge networks of our own sections, our partner CSOs, and the European Parliament identifying citizens’ political needs and how to better communicate with them beyond the Brussels EU bubble.