RE:UNION – the motto reflects the idea of Lublin’s application for the title of European Capital of Culture 2029. For Lublin, the historical perspective is only a starting point to revise the concept of a union in the current and future conditions.

RE:UNION becomes a tool for examining the vulnerable identity of a Europe steeped in crisis, one looking for an ideological antidote. RE:UNION is designed to revive hope in post-pandemic times, with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The free with the free, the equal with the equal”, was the basic concept of the historic treaty. It remains relevant today when the European integration process is gaining new momentum. In 1569, Lublin created the conditions for peaceful coexistence and cooperation of many peoples and nations, respecting their subjectivity and preserving their ethnic, cultural, and religious identities. The founding principle of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was that it was a state granting equal rights to Poles, Lithuanians, Byelorussians, and Ukrainians, with an important role played by the Germans, both from royal and princely Prussia. The Jewish community must be remembered for the unique culture it created in the area.

From the European perspective, it can be said that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a unique combination of many elements, a melting pot of cultures. Such was the conclusion about the phenomenon of the Union of Lublin drawn by prominent historians researching the roots of European cultural space, for instance, Professor Jerzy Kłoczowski.

The RE:UNION motto encourages to ask questions about a new community, and awareness of distinctiveness, and uniqueness when acting in cooperation. It points to the invisible network of connections between the Eastern European countries – connections between art, science, sport, and the creative and business sectors. RE:UNION will strengthen them, enabling the flow of experience, knowledge, and critical reflection. It will influence cooperation for the sustainable development of the city.