EU Honour Day is a trip around the European Union by visiting the 27 pavilions of Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden where European UNITY, DIVERISTY and SOLIDARITY is discovered.
- European External Action Service
- -
Practical information
- When
- -
- Where
- EXPO 2020 Dubai
- Languages
- English
Description

European Union honour day will be a full day packed with EU-dedicated events, starting with an “EU Breakfast for the Future” followed with a broad series of events organised jointly by the EEAS, European Institutions and the EU Member States. This opportunity will highlight European unity, diversity and solidarity.
Besides the more traditional public diplomacy outreach activities during the EU Honour Day, there is an important role given to EU cultural diplomacy, which will not only show EU diversity and harmony but also highlight EU policies and the importance of multilateralism and global sustainable partnerships.
All these events are woven into each other in the public areas at EXPO2020 and in the 27 pavilions of the EU MS. EXPO2020 visitors are invited to take a trip around the European Union and discover the diversity of the EU in the 27 pavilions of the EU Member States.
The EU Honour Day Gala is the Grand Finale and closing event of the full day activities of the EU Honour Day and is held at the DUBAI MILLENNIUM AMPHITHEATRE.
The performances combine music, dance and technology, highlighting multilateralism as well as European unity and solidarity, and multilingualism and cultural diversity of the European Union. This will be live in the theatre as well as live-streamed in all the EU MS Pavilions and on the websites and social media channels of the EU Institutions, EUDEL and where possible EU MS and their embassies (especially the multilateral). The programming incorporates special music arrangements and different genres of the original music and represents a trip through the European Union. The performances also reflect the different EU official languages and the cultural diversity.
The performances will create a synergy with the theme of EXPO2020, "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and connect the past with the future and highlight the EU as the defender and motor of multilateralism to tackle global issues.
Programme
9.30-10.30 | EU Honour Day Opening Event | Slovenian Pavilion |
9.30-18.00 | EU-GCC Business Forum The fifth in a series of Business Forums designed for EU and GCC governments and private sector actors to familiarise themselves with EU and GCC post Covid-19 economic recovery policies and programmes and to identify business and trade opportunities both for European and GCC private operators in the post pandemic recovery period. | Hall 2A South, Dubai Exhibition Centre
Hybrid |
10.00-24.00 | More than Food – consumer tasting | OUTSIDE EXPO2020 at Mirdif City Centre |
11.00 | EU – UNIDO: Official opening of Exhibition: A PARTNERSHIP OF RESPECT | Austrian Pavilion Online and interactive |
10.00-10.30 | EU Opera Corner – Connecting EU with the World | Sun Stage |
11.00 – 12.00 | EU Musical Aperitifwith Floris and the Flames | Belgian Pavilion |
11.00 – 13.00 | Global Harmonies – Panel Discussion on music, arts and solidarity | Terra Auditorium |
12.00 – 13.00 | EU Musical Appetiser with Luisa Amaro | Portuguese Pavilion |
11.00 – 14.00 | Moving from climate crisis response to risk management new technologies for anticipatory humanitarian action | Swedish Pavilion |
12.30 | Luxembourg and EU Exhibition – Drinks at Schengen Lounge (tbc) | Luxemburg Pavilion |
12.45 – 13.30 | EU Honour Day Flag Parade | EXPO2020 |
13.00 – 14.00 | EU Musical Intermezzo with the Wladigeroff Brothers | Bulgarian Pavilion |
13.30-14.00 | EU Opera Corner – Connecting EU with the World | Sea Stage |
14.00 – 15.00 | EU Ginger Cookie Master Class for Peace, Unity, Diversity and Solidary | Slovenian Pavilion |
14.00 – 15.00 | Sounds and Flavours | Polish Pavilion |
15.00 | EU – UNOOSA Exhibition “Space for Our Planet” | French Pavilion |
14.30-15.30 | Electronic Opera Fantasy by the Vilnius City Opera | Lithuanian Pavilion |
15.00 – 16.00 | EU Chamber Music High Tea | Czech Pavilion |
15.30-16.00 | EU Opera Corner – Connecting EU with the World | Sun Stage |
15.30 -16.00 | EU Opera Corner – Connecting EU with the World | Earth Stage |
16.00 – 17.00 | United through classical music - Live session of classical music | Romanian Pavilion |
17.00 – 19.00 | Men in Feminism – An interactive and dynamic workshop with men residing in the UAE on “Men in Feminism and co-responsibility” | Spanish Pavilion |
16.15 – 17.25 | EU Honour Day Official Ceremony in the presence of Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas | Al Wasl Plaza (Sunrise Plaza) Live-stream |
18.00- 19.30 | EU Honour Day Gala in the presence of Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas Combination of music, dance and technology, highlighting multilateralism as well as European unity and solidarity, and multilingualism and cultural diversity of the European Union. | Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre |
19.45 – 21.00 | Official Dinner offered by UAE | Leadership Pavilion |