Strasbourg, 9 May 2022 (TDI): Seventy-two years ago, the foundation of the European Union was set by the member states on the defining principles of peace and solidarity on 9 May 1950.
Today, Europe Day is celebrated in the European Union by the Council of Europe and other stakeholder organizations by organizing various sports events, exhibitions, and talks.
9th May marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, the first official step in creating the European Union. Different stakeholders and European institutions collaborate to promote European values by organizing awareness events.
Schuman Declaration:
The Schuman Declaration was presented by the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. The declaration proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose members would pool coal and steel production.
Schuman Declaration proposed the European Coal and steel community (ECSC), which provided the foundation for creating the supranational European Coal and steel organization.
The aim of the ECSC was to strengthen the economic community, which would evolve into a political union. The ECSC validated and promoted forming and promoting a common market for coal and steel for the member states.
The declaration came into being when the member states were struggling with the devastating impacts of WW2. The member states decided to merge economic interests to promote unity in Europe and avoid such war in the future.
Following the Schuman Declaration, in 1951, the Treaty on establishing the European Coal and Steel Community was ratified by the inner six member states.
They are the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Later the treaty came into force in 1952.
The treaty established a common assembly, a Special Council of Ministers, a Higher Authority, and a Court of Justice, which evolved into the Commission, The Council, the Court of Justice, and the Parliament of the EU.
Celebration of Europe Day 2022:
Various activities are performed on-site and at virtual platforms in different EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg. Europe Day is a public holiday in many parts of Europe.
The day is celebrated in Russia due to Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on this day in 1945. This year, the EU has demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine by condemning the Russian invasion of the country.
“The Council of Europe is united in its solidarity with Ukraine. We continue to support the country and its people and will do so with further, tailor-made measures as soon as the violence ends.
In the meantime, we are working with member states to help them support the Ukrainian refugees who have come to their countries searching for safety, ” remarked Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić.
EU member states have shown solidarity with Ukraine as many official buildings in the European Union were illuminated with Ukraine’s flag.
