When is Europe Day?

Europe Day’ is celebrated every year on 9 May. The date was chosen because it was on 9 May 1950 that the first step was taken, through the Schuman Declaration, to form the European Coal and Steel Community, which was the beginning of what we know today as the EU.

The Schuman Declaration can primarily be described as a proposal to establish an organised Europe with close economic ties as a condition for maintaining peaceful relations between European countries. Since the Schuman Declaration is generally considered to be the official foundation stone for the establishment of the present EU, the Heads of State or Government of the EU decided at the 1985 Milan summit to celebrate 9 May as ‘Europe Day’.

Around Europe and in the EU institutions, Europe Day is marked in different ways with activities aimed at bringing the EU closer to citizens and peoples in Europe closer to each other.

You can read more about Europe Day and the Schuman Declaration on the website:
http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/index_en.htm