Pan-European Picnic

The Pan-European Picnic (German: Paneuropäisches Picknick; Hungarian: páneurópai piknik) was a peace demonstration held on the Austrian-Hungarian border near Sopron, Hungary on 19 August 1989, the day before the Hungarian holiday commemorating Stephen I of Hungary. Part of the Revolutions of 1989 leading to the lifting of the Iron Curtain and the reunification of Germany, it was organised by the Paneuropean Union and the opposition Hungarian Democratic Forum under the sponsorship of Archduke Otto von Habsburg and Imre Pozsgay.

In 1989, the situation in Central Europe was tense. Despite dictatorial governments, its peoples demanded democratic elections, freedom of speech and the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The physical elements of the Iron Curtain were a dominant factor in the movement to unite Europe. Although some countries had a severe Communist power structure, others (such as Hungary) took a reform-oriented approach. Supported by Mikhail Gorbachev’s new policies, the communist leadership accepted the necessity for change. Non-governmental organizations and new political parties played a sizable role in the movement towards a democratic, multiparty system. That year, round-table discussions were held in several Central European countries to develop a consensus on changing the political system. In February formal discussions began in Warsaw and on 4 April the Polish Round Table Agreement was signed, legalising Solidarity and scheduling parliamentary elections for 4 June. Solidarity’s victory surpassed all expectations.

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