On 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day. It marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, in which French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community. This proposal marked the first step towards European integration.
In 1950, as European countries were still recovering from the devastation of World War II, a group of European politicians envisioned a united Europe to prevent further conflicts. Schuman’s plan, developed in cooperation with Jean Monnet, aimed to foster peace and solidarity by integrating Western Europe’s coal and steel industries. This led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, bringing together Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg under common management of their key industries.
In the decades that followed, cooperation among the founding members of the Coal and Steel Community expanded to include many other areas, ultimately growing into the 27 Member States of the modern European Union. During this time, we witnessed the collapse of communism and dictatorships across our continent, as well as the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. We have also overseen some of the EU’s biggest achievements, including the establishment of the Single Market, the Erasmus programme, the Schengen free travel area, and the Euro.
This year, we are not only marking all that we have achieved and built together, but also celebrating 40 years since Portugal and Spain joined the EU, as well as the 40th anniversary of the first official Europe Day celebrations and the public use of the EU flag and anthem.
Europe Day offers an opportunity to celebrate our shared values, connect with citizens, and showcase how the EU protects people, creates opportunities, and promotes global partnerships. To mark the occasion, the European institutions will open their doors to citizens and organise a variety of online and on-site activities in Brussels and across the EU. All activities are free of charge, and no registration is required. Join the celebrations!
For more information
Visit the European Commission on 9 May 2026
Robert Schuman: architect of the European integration project
