Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May, marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration which was presented in 1950. This founding document of the European Union laid the groundwork for cooperation, solidarity, and lasting peace on our continent. Europe Day continues to symbolise the EU’s commitment to democracy, diversity and unity.
After World War II, a group of European politicians envisioned a united Europe to prevent future conflicts. The Schuman Declaration, led by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, outlined a bold vision of pooling strategic resources, notably coal and steel, to deter war between nations.
In 1951, following the Schuman Declaration, the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community marked a historic milestone. Signed by six nations (France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg), it laid the foundations for today’s European integration and led to the creation of an economic community that would gradually become a political union.
In the Declaration, Schuman said: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.” As we celebrate Europe Day in 2024, we remember the journey from post-war devastation to a union of peace and prosperity. The principles enshrined in the Schuman Declaration continue to guide the EU, inspiring a continent united in its diversity.
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