Dear Europeade friends,
 
The global Corona crisis is a challenging time for us all. Our committee members and myself hope that you and your family are all doing well. 
 
Distance is currently the highest form of care - we are therefore strictly adhering to the recommendations and restrictions of the state authorities in order to minimise any risk to the health of our Europeade participants and guests. We are relying on the recommendations of the national and international health authorities, and, in particular, the authorities in Lithuania and Klaipėda.
 
As a committee, we’ve been well aware that we’ve had to tax your patience and that of your group members ahead of the Europeade, as you’d probably expected a decision earlier. However, we didn’t want to prematurely forego the 57th Europeade in Klaipėda without the necessary analysis of the entire situation.
 
After long and intensive discussions between our committee and the city of Klaipėda, and taking the health of the participants and all guests of the Europeade into account, we have decided not to hold the Europeade this year. A postponement to the autumn was also considered, but no one really knows how the situation will develop. In addition, accommodation for the participants would not have been possible at a later date, due to the schools being back in operation.
 
In my role as president of the Europeade, and in parallel with the talks with Klaipėda, I’ve also been in contact with the future Europeade cities of Trapani, Kielce and Gotha. We are currently examining the possibility of postponing the Europeade in the subsequent cities by one year at a time, because our goal is to organise the 57th Europeade in Lithuania in 2021. Please understand that all cities have the priority of dealing with the tasks arising from this serious crisis. We therefore still need some time to make a final decision.
 
The participation fees that you have paid will be directly returned to you by the Committee. Please be patient, for the money will certainly be returned to you!
 
We remain confident, however, and wholeheartedly wish that you will come through these extraordinary times healthy and unscathed. 
 
We are already looking forward to celebrating our colourful Europe as "unity in diversity" in 2021, with even more joy in European togetherness on the occasion of the 57th Europeade. And we will once again delight the cities and their guests with our traditional costumes, our folk music and the associated dances. Our mutual collaboration will be worthwhile for both the Europeade and Europe!
 
We, the committee, will inform you about the further procedure as soon as we have new information. Please also keep an eye on our website, which is constantly updated and will keep you up to date.
 
We wish you all the best, good health, and lots of strength and confidence in this difficult time. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones and hold on through these times, so that we can see each other again soon, healthy and with all the old freshness of spirit.
 
Yours truly, 
Rüdiger Heß
President