Europe Day and the construction of the European Union

This Thursday, May 9th, Europe Day is celebrated, a relevant date for the European Union and, by the way, one of its symbols. This year we celebrate the 74th anniversary of Europe Day. What is it? Why is this day celebrated every year?

The origin

It was on May 9, 1950 that the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, presented a declaration that became known as the Schuman Declaration. The ideas proposed in this declaration laid the founding foundations of what the European Union is today.

The Schuman Declaration highlighted the values ​​of peace, solidarity, economic and social development, environmental and regional balance. The Schuman Declaration was motivated by political objectives, as it intended to bring together French and German economic agents with the aim of reducing conflicts in the future. The declaration was presented just five years after the end of the Second World War. The declaration largely had an economic purpose. It proposed the creation of a supranational European institution to manage the raw materials that constituted the basis of military power at the time: coal and steel. The importance of these raw materials was reflected in the name of the community created: European Coal and Steel Community.

One year later, on April 18, the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was signed by the six founding members: France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Europe Day

As the European Coal and Steel Community is the precursor of the European Union, the Schuman Declaration plays a fundamental role in the constitution of a European community and, for this reason, the 9th of May gained relevant weight in the history of post-European war.

Thus, it was determined by the heads of state and government of the so-called European Economic Community (EEC) at the Milan Summit in 1985 that May 9th would be consecrated as Europe Day.

Chronology of the construction of the European Union

Since coming into force in July 1952, the initial ECSC has evolved over the decades, becoming the EEC and, finally, the European Union (EU) as we know it today.

The number of Member States has also grown, having gone from the six founders of the ECSC to the current 27 that make up the EU. These are the important dates that mark this expansion.

May 9, 1950 – Robert Schuman presents a declaration – known today as the Schuman Declaration – that lays the founding foundations of the European Union

April 18, 1951 – Six countries – France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – sign in Paris the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which entered into force on July 23, 1952, by a period of 50 years

March 25, 1957 – The treaties establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) are signed in Rome, which comes into force on January 1, 1958

January 1, 1973 – The first moment of expansion. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark join the European Economic Community.

December 9 and 10, 1974 – At the Paris Summit, the political leaders of the Nine decide to meet regularly in the European Council three times a year. They also give the green light to direct elections for the European Parliament.

January 1, 1981 – Greece is the 10th country to join the EEC

January 1, 1986 – The date of Iberian accession. Portugal and Spain join the EEC and increase the number of member states to 12

June 19, 1990 – The Schengen Agreement is signed, which aims to eliminate border controls between member states

October 3, 1990 – The reunification of Germany takes place

February 7, 1992 – Signing of the Maastricht Treaty, which results in the creation of the European Union

January 1, 1995 – Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU

January 1, 2002 – The euro enters circulation

May 1, 2004 – After a longer process, 10 more countries join the European Union: Cyprus, Malta, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia

January 1, 2007 – The European Union now has two more member states, Bulgaria and Romania. In total, there are now 27 member states

July 1st 2013 – Croatia joins and becomes the 28th member state

January 31, 2020 – After the referendum, held in 2016, in which the majority of British people voted in favor of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, Brexit, and after long negotiations, the United Kingdom’s exit took place, after more than 40 years as member