‘Europe Day – a festival devoted to the European Union – in the Ukraine has been backed by Khortytsa (aka Hortiza) Distillery for the second time this year. This was by no means coincidental: Khortytsa is Ukraine’s top strong drinks producer (its share of the market comes to 28%).

‘The brand is currently acquiring transnational importance; all of our production processes have been brought in compliance with the European standards, and our produce is exported to forty-five countries all over the world, with 25 more countries expected to open their markets for us by the end of 2007,’ the PR Director of Khortytsa’s Russian branch Svetlana Odintsova says.

Over 200,000 people took part in Europe Day celebrations in Kiev, with 27 embassies making their tents in Khreschatik St. Thousands of city dwellers could enjoy presentations on Europe’s distinctive national cultures that included artistic performances, cooking workshops, and much else besides. The day was culminated with an open air concert; the event was supported by Khortytsa and featured popular Ukrainian and Lithuanian bands.

Europe Day was initially celebrated in the Ukraine in 2003.