Europe Day is a
celebration that takes place every May 9 in the European Union, named in memory
of the Schuman Declaration, in which the French foreign minister, Robert
Schuman, gave the first step for the integration of European states by
proposing that coal and steel from Germany (then West Germany) and France (and
other countries) to submit to a joint administration, promoting the creation of
the first European Community: the coal and steel, being thus the origin of the
current European Union. The importance of this proposal made in 1950 lies
further that by subjecting the two productions of the arms industry
indispensable to a single authority, countries participating in this
organization, find great difficulty in case you want to start a war between
them.
The
commemoration of this date takes place since 1985, after approval by the Heads
of State and Government at the European Council. Despite being the only
official celebration day in the European Union is considered a weekday and the
celebrations organized by the member states are not equated to those performed
on the occasion of national holidays in each state.
History: Schuman Declaration
Five years after the end of the Second World War, the largest war in
history, the European continent was mired in devastation and the threat of a
new war looming over Europe.
At 6 pm on May
9, 1950 press was called at the Salon de l'Horloge of the French Foreign
Ministry at the Quai d'Orsay, Paris, for a "communication of the utmost
importance," which had been written by Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman
spoke, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The proposal
was to create a European supranational institution, which is responsible for
managing joint production of coal and steel, so that the countries
participating in it would give up the ownership of the armament industry, so
would be under control.
Designation of
the festival
In 1985 Milan
Summit of Heads of State and Government decided to celebrate 9 May as
"Europe Day". The official designation of that day in May as Europe
Day, coincided with the centenary of the birth of Schuman (1886), who along
with Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer and Alcide De Gasperi, are considered the
founding fathers of the European Community.
On 9 May has
become a European symbol which, together with the European flag, motto and the
European anthem. Europe Day is a unique symbol of the EU, unlike the flag and
anthem are symbols of Europe by extension. This is because the Schuman
declaration came after the creation of the Council of Europe, from which the
other two symbols.
Celebration
Despite being
the only official celebration day of the EU, in practice none of the member
countries of the Union organizes high-level commemorative festivities, such as
those performed on the occasion of national holidays in each state. However, in
2006 France organized various celebrations which included free entry to the
hall where the speech was delivered, and the lighting of Paris Arc de Triomphe
and the Eiffel Tower with blue.
The European
public postal organization PostEurop, printed a stamp in honor of the European
day which came into service on May 9, 2000, coinciding with the 50th
anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Each year the European Commission
published a promotional poster, which includes a different reason each time,
accompanied by a slogan regarding a current issue within the EU.
Many schools
celebrate the May 9 to convey to students the importance of this day in their
lives. Children and young people are the future citizens of the European Union,
so teachers increasingly participate in activities and initiatives that promote
Europeanism.
It’s worth
remarking the celebrations promoted by the Cell Europe of Ciudad Real seeking
to spread this day in the field of education.
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