The “Albert Cohen Corfu” cultural association was founded in 2011, based on the ideas and values of Corfu born Albert Cohen (1895), humanist, diplomat and author.
The association’s activities organized under the general title “Corfu remembers...” are targeted to highlight events and personalities that were part of our local history but which also, often enough, played a significant role in the international scene of their time.
In that context, the association decided to commemorate, in June 2019, the 25th anniversary from the European Union Summit Conference that took place in Corfu in June 1994.
The Corfu E.U. Summit was especially important as the efforts towards the enlargement of the European Union were successful by the joining of Sweden, Austria and Finland and by the signature of their respective Accession Acts.
At the event that took place on Sunday the 23d of June 2019, at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, in commemoration of this anniversary, representatives of the three countries which joined the E.U. at the time were present. Two of them, Mr Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden and Mr Frank Belfrage, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Sweden, were also present at the Corfu E.U. Summit of 1994 and signed the Act of Accession of their country.
The welcome addresses and speeches during the event are included in the present issue:
Mr Spiros Giourgas, President of the Albert Cohen Corfu association.
Mrs Charlotte Sammelin, Ambassador of Sweden in Athens.
Mr Jimmy Jamar, former Head of the European Commission Representation in Belgium.
Mr Carl Bildt, ex Prime Minister of Sweden.
Mr Frank Belfrage, ex Deputy Foreign Minister of Sweden.
Mrs. Andrea Ikic-Böhm, Ambassador of Austria in Athens.
Mr Juha Pyykkö, Ambassador of Finland in Athens.
Mr Chrysanthos Sarlis, ex Mayor of Corfu.
Mr Marios Roussis, student at the Ionian University.