The celebrations will start with a ceremonial session of the parliamentary EU Affairs Committee, which will be addressed by President Borut Pahor and Speaker Janko Veber.

The state ceremony marking the 8 May Europe Day and Slovenia's accession to the EU on 1 May 2014 will be held in the evening, with outgoing Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek as keynote speaker.

Prior to the ceremony in Vitanje, Bratušek will address a panel on the challenges faced by the EU in Ljubljana, which will feature members of the EU accession negotiating group, including current European Commissioner Janez Potočnik and economist Mojmir Mrak.

Europe Day is celebrated in memory of the 1950 declaration by former French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to create a new form of organisation of states in Europe called a supranational community.

Europe Day represents a culmination of Europe Week, which featured a number of events promoting active participation, volunteering, mobility, studying, apprenticeship and employment in the EU.