Hoisting the flag is not just a symbol of an institutional relationship, but also of the city’s real commitment and connection with the European values of diversity, unity, progress and solidarity. The ceremony is one of the activities being held during the city’s year as the European Capital of Democracy.

The flag was brought into the Saló de Cent by a group of students in their final year of secondary school from two European Parliament ambassador schools: Col·legi Sant Gabriel and Escola Pia Nostra Senyora de Barcelona.

Moderated by the writer Fàtima Saheb, participants in the ceremony included the Mayor, Jaume Collboni, the vice-chair for the European Committee of the Regions, André Viola, and the Minister for European Union and Foreign Action, Jaume Duch. There was also a round table centring on how the European projects is structured through institutions, research and teaching.

The ceremony included the European anthem and the piece Barcelona. Lighthouse to the World, created for the America’s Cup in Barcelona.