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Celebrate Europe Day!
Traditionally celebrated on May 9, Europe Day is one of the symbols of the European Union. This day marks the anniversary of the Declaration by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, who in 1950 proposed a new form of cooperation between the nations of the European continent. However, it is on Saturday May 10 that the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the City of Paris, the European Parliament and the European Commission will celebrate Europe Day and their commitment to the European project, in this year marking 75 years since the Schuman Declaration.
"Europe Day is, along with the European flag, currency, motto and anthem, one of the symbols of the European Union. Europe Day commemorates the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950, considered the birth of the European Union. This event, which symbolizes European unity and peace, and is designed to bring European institutions and citizens closer together, is celebrated through various activities and events across the continent. Today, Europe Day has been extended to Joli mois de l'Europe, with actions scheduled in all regions on various dates.
A festive, civic-minded event in Paris
It's in this wider context that the City of Paris celebrates Europe with a special event, organized every year on the Saturday before or after Europe Day. This free event is an opportunity to meet the general public for debates, exchanges, exhibitions and gastronomic and festive events.
On May 10, the Place de la République in the heart of Paris will vibrate "to the rhythm of Europe", during a "festive and civic event to reaffirm Parisians' commitment to a united and democratic European Union". Round tables, entertainment and exceptional concerts will be on the program to "celebrate European values together". A "vibrant European village" has also been set up, with a large outdoor toy library ( ) offering fun activities on Europe, as well as a culinary tour of Europe with Swedish, Polish and Belgian foodtrucks, and free concerts by French, Polish and Danish bands! In addition to the fun, plenary sessions will feature debates, while over 35 organizations will be on hand to explain to the general public "how national and European institutions work, and the richness of European involvement in key areas such as mobility, citizenship, education and culture".
Europe Month across France and Europe
Outside Paris, many other events are also taking place throughout the month of May. What has become known as "Joli mois de l'Europe" celebrates the European Union and the thousands of projects it undertakes every year. Once again this year, a large number of French towns are taking part, organizing concerts, tours, competitions or culinary tastings around the theme of Europe.
From May 3 to 31, the city of Strasbourg, home to the European Parliament, will be offering some 50 events. On the program: educational and fun activities, exhibitions, urban arts, conferences, concerts... As in Strasbourg, Europe Day is celebrated in all EU countries, as the European Parliament website emphasizes, showing how Europe Day is always "close to you".
Throughout France, numerous events are scheduled all over the country, as listed on the website L'Europe s'engage en France, a website of the Ministry of Spatial Planning co-financed by the EU, which lists numerous initiatives, such as :
- European villages and information stands;
- cycling, walking and swimming tours to discover projects supported by the European Union;
- simulations of European Parliament sessions;
- twinning activities between European towns;
- exhibitions, conferences, debates, language cafés, etc.
The site features a calendar and interactive map, listing over 200 events in France and the same number in the rest of Europe.
What is the Schuman Declaration?
"Europe will not be built in one fell swoop, nor in an overall construction: it will be built through concrete achievements that first create de facto solidarity".
On May 9, 1950, in Paris, then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman called for French and German coal and steel production to be pooled "under an international authority". This primarily economic agreement is regarded as the launch of European integration, since it led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on April 18, 1951, ratified by six European states (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). Together, these countries founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the first of the European institutions to give rise to what is now the European Union.
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