Europe Day

The 9th of May is the anniversary of the historical “Schuman Declaration”, also known as the “Europe Day,” celebrating peace and unity all across Europe. At a speech in Paris in 1950, the French foreign minister Robert Schuman presented his idea for a new political cooperation in Europe, a project through which peace was guaranteed and no conflict could take place in Europe. His original project dealt with the aim of pooling and managing coal and steel production, therefore his plan was to create a common economic policy among the European countries, after a historical period that affected negatively the whole continent. His proposal is considered nowadays to be the beginning of the European Union.  

The 9th of May has since been adopted as a memorial day since 1985, when the European Economic Community was founded. Such a choice stems from the idea that, without Schuman’s economic cooperation plan, the achievement of a European federation would not have been possible. During these days of festivity, the EU institutions open their doors to the public in Brussels and Strasbourg, and the local EU offices both in Europe and in other parts of the world, organise a variety of activities and events open to everybody.

Traditionally, thousands of people take part in visits, concerts, debates and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU. Last year’s visual for the Europe Day was composed of 28 elements (the flags of the European Union member states). The series of figures resulting from their creativity, in all shapes, colours and sizes, represent the EU’s diversity, not only within the European Union, but also far beyond, as citizens of the world.