Today, member states of the European Union, celebrate Europe Day.
Europe Day, observed annually on May 9th, commemorates peace and unity across the continent. This date honors the historic ‘Schuman declaration,’ wherein Schuman outlined a vision for a novel political collaboration in Europe, aiming to render inter-European warfare inconceivable. Schuman’s initiative is widely regarded as the precursor to the establishment of the present-day European Union.
This year EU Open Day in Brussels was held on Saturday 4th May. An array of events and activities were held in Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, and across the EU Member States, the more that the European Elections (6-9 June) are around the corner.
Romanian President’s message
On his message on Europe Day, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that this year’s European Parliament elections represent a test with very important stakes for European democracy and we have the obligation to encourage the citizens of our nations to vote. He also says that Europeans want to live in free societies, with a functional rule of law, where rights and freedoms are respected, and the result of the vote in June must reflect this majority option.
“Almost three quarters of a century after the Schuman Declaration, we celebrate Europe Day in a context that has not been so complicated since the end of the Second World War. The military aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine puts us in front of major decisions, through which we reconfirm our full attachment to the defining principles and values for the European Union: solidarity, unity, diversity, respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights. These are the pillars on which our Union was built and which five years ago, at the historic Summit in Sibiu, we made a commitment to defend, in order to consolidate and advance the European project”, said President Klaus Iohannis in his message.
According to the president, “the current challenges show us all the more clearly that we have a responsibility towards the people to maintain peace on the continent, and the surest solution is to strengthen the European construction and strengthen the unity between our nations”.
“The division between states, the discourses that promote faults within democratic societies are weapons that threaten our peace and prosperity. They are worrying phenomena, which include extensive disinformation campaigns, fake news, increased aggression in the public space. All this puts the health of our democracies to the test and generates a sharp polarization in society“, stated the Romanian president.
Klaus Iohannis mentioned that “in this context, this year’s European Parliament elections represent a test with very important stakes for European democracy and we have the obligation to encourage the citizens of our nations to vote.”. “Europeans want to live in free societies, with a functional rule of law, where rights and freedoms are respected, and the result of the vote in June must reflect this majority option. Those who challenge the European project must answer the question “What is the alternative that I propose to this project that brought peace and broke down the walls of hatred and prejudice that caused fratricidal conflicts between European peoples?”. The European project brought us together by offering a model of collaboration in the common interest, of multicultural coexistence and harmony, transforming into a space of unity in diversity”, he added.
“45 years after the organization of the first European elections, it is important to remind ourselves that our decisions can positively influence the future of the European project. In a problematic global context, with multiple challenges, the European Union increases its importance as a beacon of solidarity and aspiration towards peace and prosperity. Our country, firmly anchored in the European project, actively contributes to the actions that fuel and support the progress of the Union. The historic decisions taken at the end of last year regarding the opening of accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine represent a significant stage for the entire European Union. It is imperative that we continue to strongly support these states in their European journey. The place of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and the states of the Western Balkans is in the European Union! Our support follows naturally from the fact that we ourselves are a successful example of the enlargement of the European Union”, further said Iohannis.
He reminded that this year’s anniversary has special significance also because we recently marked 20 years since the largest expansion of the European Union, with the accession, on May 1, 2004, of ten new member states, completed in 2007 by the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Union.
“The accession to the EU brought considerable benefits and opportunities to the citizens of all member states, a strategic investment in peace and democracy. One of the great achievements is the Erasmus project, which offers European students the opportunity to interact and explore together projects that can open numerous opportunities for affirmation in research and in the professions of the future. An enlarged Europe is certainly a stronger Europe globally, as previous waves of enlargement have proven. Consolidating the international relevance and attractiveness of the European Union are becoming crucial for regional and global stability and security, especially in this period when the Russian Federation has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for over two years. As stated in the Declaration from Sibiu, five years ago: “Today’s Union is stronger than yesterday’s and we want to continue to make it stronger for tomorrow. This is our commitment to future generations. This is the spirit from Sibiu”. Happy birthday, Europe! Happy birthday, European Romania!”, says the president in the end.
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