70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, 9 May 1950

On May 9, the European Parliament commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration.

Against the backdrop of the Cold War, Robert Schuman issued a declaration which marked the beginning of the process of building the European Community. The aim the French Foreign Minister had set himself was to establish a new supranational organisation with a view to creating a common coal and steel market between France and Germany which was also open to other European countries. It would become the European Coal and Steel Community, or ECSC, and since 1985, Europe Day has been celebrated on 9 May every year.

While the European Union is today facing major challenges, it appears important for the European Parliament to reconsider this revolutionary initiative which, on 9 May 1950, served as a starting point for the construction of a Community Europe. We must not forget all the efforts that were necessary - in the middle of the Cold War - to lay the first milestones of an integration process that has marked the history of our continent so much.