Icons of Europe This fleur-de-lys represents the aims of Icons of Europe asbl. The fleur-de-lys figure has been used as an ornament or emblem by almost all civilisations of the old and new worlds.
Introduction by the Ambassador of Denmark
The programme hand-out for the Chamber Music concert organized by Icons of Europe on 17 November 2002 at Astoria, Brussels, carried the following introductory remarks:
 
Kafka

New Rennaisance

Icons of the arts, music literature and science are celebrated throughout the world, and they continue to be sources of enjoyment, knowledge and inspiration.

The enlargement process of the European Union provides us all with a unique opportunity to renew the acquaintance with Icons of our neighbours.

Above all, the process could lead to a
new Renaissance that will stimulate individual creativity, economic growth and social development.

I am pleased that Icons of Europe asbl has taken the initiative to organize this concert, with music created by some of the world’s greatest composers and played by such an outstanding quartet.

Poul Skytte Christoffersen
Ambassador of Denmark
to the European Union
Liszt
Ionesco
Curie
Milosz
Canetti
de Hevesy

Examples of Icons of EU candidate countries:  Franz Kafka, Franz Liszt, Eugène Ionesco, Marie Curie, Czeslaw Milosz, Elias Canetti and George de Hevesy – the latter four are Nobel Prize winners.

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2002:
Imre Kertész, Hungary (born in Budapest, 1929).