It has been 72 years since the countries of Europe, on the ashes of World War II, joined forces with a common vision of creating a large family of nations, working together for a common, peaceful future based on common principles and values. Europe Day, May 9, gives us the opportunity to celebrate cooperation, peace, solidarity, unity and our common principles and values in Europe. This date marks the anniversary of the historic 'Schuman Declaration', which was the starting point of our journey towards the European Union. 

It is worth repeating again this year that with this Declaration, Robert Schuman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France in 1950, laid the foundations of the European Coal and Steel Community. In an effort to heal the wounds of World War II, six countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) then decided to strengthen their economic cooperation and the joint management of coal and steel, i.e. of energy and raw materials needed to build war material, meant that a new war was practically impossible between these states. The gradual upgrading of supranational European institutions has led to the current European Union, which has always been open to any European country that meets the political and economic criteria for membership. 

Robert Schuman: "Europe will not be created all at once, nor in a single edifice: it will be shaped by concrete achievements that will first create real solidarity."

This year also marks the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe, an unprecedented exercise in participatory democracy, in which European citizens have the unique opportunity to discuss Europe's challenges and priorities, and to articulate their wishes for the Europe of tomorrow. The Plenary Session of the Conference adopted 49 proposals in nine thematic areas with more than 300 measures for multiple reforms. 

The European Parliament adopted a resolution in May acknowledging that the "ambitious and constructive proposals" that emerged from the Conference called for a change in Treaties, for example towards a simpler, more transparent, more accountable and more democratic EU. The reform of the EU Treaties should be carried out through a Convention in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty of the European Union. As part of this process, the EU should move towards a sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth model, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, MEPs called for the full implementation of the European pillar of social rights. They also called on the EU to play a leading role in tackling climate change, protecting biodiversity and promoting global sustainability. Finally, MEPs emphasized that deeper political integration and real democracy could be achieved through the right of legislative initiative for the European Parliament and by ending the rule of unanimity in the Council.

The expectations, priorities and concerns of the people have been clearly heard at this Conference on the Future of Europe, and that the outcome must be respected. This year's Europe Day also coincides with the crisis in Ukraine, which reinforces the need for a united, peaceful Europe, with solidarity in the hearts of all of us. We must always remember that the EU is a political achievement for peace. And to overcome any trial, we must look to the values on which the EU was founded, to the values of Robert Schuman, and to truly embrace those values.