"On 2 May 1989 dismantling the fence built to prevent illegal border crossings on the Hungarian-Austrian border began. On 19 August several thousand people took part in the Pan-European Picnic near the border at Sopron, where the creation of a Europe without borders was urged. On 10 September 1989 the Hungarian government announced its decision to allow from 11 September 1989 East German nationals staying in Hungary who did not wish to return home to travel to any other country that was willing to accept them or let them travel through. On the 20th anniversary of the event known as the border opening that made history, Hungary, Austria and Germany are jointly releasing a stamp. The special feature of the stamps issued in all three countries is that they are all based on a design by the Hungarian graphic artist Imre Benedek. The stamps have a blue background while the main motif is the number of the anniversary of the event with a graphic composition using the national colours of all three countries supplemented by a message referring to the historic border opening. A special commemorative card presenting the stamps of the three countries together has also been made, which shows the new stamps together with the special postmark. The front of the commemorative card – matching the graphic design of the first day cover – is illustrated by a map detail and the national flags. "