Europe Day: What is it and what does it represent?

Every 9 May, Europeans celebrate Europe Day, a commemorative occasion that honours the starting point of the continent’s political and economic integration, and the peace achieved as a result of the decades-long collective effort.

The celebration traces back to 1950, when Robert Schuman, then-French minister of foreign affairs, delivered his landmark declaration proposing that France and Germany — two nations with a long and bloody history — join their coal and steel production.

With this in mind, Schuman intended to accelerate the modernisation of both countries after the economic devastation and human carnage of World War II and to avoid a potential race of unfair competition.

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