Christian Lambiotte, the official photographer of the European Commission during the Delors era, says that this capture was a question "of being in the right place at the right time”.
He remembers that a moment like this was made possible “...thanks to Jean Michel Baer [former advisor in charge of social issues, education, culture and communication in Jacques Delors' cabinet] who suggested President Delors greet the children”.
Whether it was fate or a stroke of luck, Christian Lambiotte's camera was able to immortalise this iconic moment wherein Jacques Delors welcomes with open arms the support of young people holding the European flag on May 29, 1985 in Brussels.
The archives of the European Commission tell us even more about this picture: The young Belgian, Sandra Kim, winner of the 1986 song contest “Eurovison” performed for the EU’s inauguration ceremony. The flag owes its existence to a 1983 European Parliament resolution and the recommendations of the ad hoc committee "A People's Europe", which were then adopted by the 1985 European Council of Milan.
This photo today presides over Europe Jacques Delors’ headquarters in Brussels. Thank you to Christian Lambiotte for capturing such an important piece of history in the making.
