A 3D video show was projected on the facade of the Opéra Garnier, organized by the German Embassy in Paris, to celebrate Franco-German friendship and the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union.
This year, 57 years ago, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation. This treaty, a major event in the history of Franco-German friendship, remains the basis for broad cooperation based on trust between the two countries and their fellow citizens. Since then, Franco-German friendship has been a pillar of European integration.
France and Germany are for each other major political partners and trusted neighbors. French and German citizens are closely linked. The French and German governments share a common responsibility in the face of the many challenges facing Europe and the world.
“The Paris opera is a catalyst for the values of the European Union,” says the German Embassy in Paris, which is organizing this show to symbolically celebrate the six months of the presidency of the council of the European Union by Berlin, from July to December 2020. “This video projection will travel through the political and cultural history of Europe since the Second World War while presenting the diversity of the member countries”, one announces at the embassy from Germany.
Lionel Courio, manager of the company Yoomup, designer of the show, made a 3D video montage with musical accompaniment, to celebrate the Franco-German friendship by projecting photos of General de Gaulle with Konrad Adenauer, of François Mitterrand with Helmut Kohl and also Emmanuel Macron with Angela Merkel. How better to signify the idea that Europe draws from the sources of our history than by showing the goddess Europe as represented on an Etruscan vase from the 4th century BC, kept at the Louvre museum. “The Europe of science will not be forgotten since we will also be talking about the Ariane rocket, the first rocket of the European space agency” adds Lionel Courio.
The video was accompanied by a musical background which began with the European anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Other pieces followed: La Tosca by Puccini, Verdi, Handel, Prokofiev. A note from Electro closed the screening.
The show was launched by the German Ambassador to Paris, Mr. Hans-Dieter Lucas, by pressing the button on the desk installed in front of the Garnier Opera. For ten minutes, the animation show was admired by the crowd present on site. There was also a second broadcast.
The event was created to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and the presidency of the European Union of Germany, for 6 months between July 1 and December 31, 2020. It will pass the baton to Portugal for the 6 next months.
Germany will take over in Portugal, between January 1 and June 30, 2021; it will be followed by Slovenia, the second semester of 2021 (July 1-December 31, 2021).
The priorities of the German presidency form part of the program for the next 18 months, drawn up by the German, Portuguese and Slovenian presidencies and the high representative of the Union who chairs the Foreign Affairs Council.
In line with the EU’s strategic program for 2019-2024, this 18-month program sets among its priorities the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, a sustainable resumption of growth within the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and of the stimulus fund. The program intends to promote in particular corporate social responsibility, digital sovereignty in the face of the challenges of artificial intelligence and the deepening of Economic and Monetary Union. The common foreign and security policy as well as the European neighborhood policy will be continued.
“All together to relaunch Europe”, the German Presidency’s program aims to sustainably control the COVID-19 pandemic by improving the EU’s crisis management system, in particular epidemiological monitoring.
In addition, the German Presidency wishes:
- a “stronger and more innovative Europe” around two axes, the development of digital sovereignty and the organization of a sustainable and stable financial architecture, particularly in tax matters;
- a “just Europe” concerning the promotion of solidarity between generations and equality between women and men;
- a “sustainable Europe” giving priority to an ambitious climate, environmental and biodiversity protection policy, alignment with the United Nations 2030 program for sustainable development and sustainable agriculture.
- a “Europe of security and common values” aimed at strengthening the rule of law and police, judicial and customs cooperation (fight against cross-border crime and terrorism), migration and the management of refugees calling for a reform of the common European aid regime and the implementation of the new Frontex mandate, etc.
After six months of the presidency of the Council of the European Union by Berlin, rendezvous on January 22, the date chosen for the 40th anniversary to celebrate Franco-German reconciliation.
The symbolic date of January 22 was chosen in 2003 for the 40th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. Signed on January 22, 1963, the Élysée Treaty sought to anchor Franco-German reconciliation in society, in particular through culture and youth exchanges. In 2020, the focus is on combating racism and anti-Semitism.
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