This year's Europa stamp is dedicated to the theme of peace and will be
officially issued on 9 May 2023. In a stamp competition, the association
of European public postal operators (PostEurop) chose the "Together"
motif (face value: CHF 1.80) by designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir
from Luxembourg as the winning stamp. The two designers created a new
peace symbol for their competition entry. It shows interlocking hearts
inspired by the Celtic love knot. By adding hands with intertwined
fingers, the motif conveys the message of mutual respect. The range of
colours used represents all the nations of the world.
Liechtenstein's
competition entry, designed by Isabella Gassner and entitled "Hopeful"
(face value: CHF 1.80), will appear at the same time as the second
special stamp.
Her motif is intended to renew hope for peace. The
colourful motif shows a child carrying the fragile Earth as a balloon
while holding a lollipop in her other hand, symbolising the taste of
peace. The girl looks towards a peaceful future where a colourful
rainbow and a dove of peace await her.