MAY 9: International Day of Europe

May 9 is the date of the International Day of Europe in the member states of the European Union .

It commemorates the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950. Each year, it is an opportunity to celebrate peace and unity in Europe.

The « Fête de l’Europe » allows to promote the symbols and the links specific between the inhabitants in the various countries.

The symbols of the European Union

We associate the EU with 5 symbols not recognized by the treaty:

• The flag : 12 yellow stars with 5 branches arranged in a circle on a blue background. In 1986 he becomes the official flag of Europe. Since 1955 it has been that of the Council of Europe number 12 will not change and has nothing to do with the number of countries. The 12 symbolizes wholeness and wholeness. The circular arrangement of the stars represents the solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe. In addition, each country retains at the same time its national flag.

• The hymn : « Ode to Joy », poem by F. von Schiller on the prelude to the last movement from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Chosen in 1985 in Milan, this piece was already the anthem of Council of Europe since 1972.

• The motto : « United in diversity », an unofficial motto chosen following a competition from the Caen Memorial in 1999. The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (2004) provided for the addition of this currency.

• The single currency : The Euro since January 1999 in 11 states (coins and banknotes in circulation only from January 2002. Since 2015, 19 countries out of 27 belong to the zone Euro. The 8 others (Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden), have kept their national currency for the moment. The UK did Brexit.

• Europe Day : May 9, the day of Robert Schuman’s declaration

The different steps

• On MAY 9, 1950 , Robert Schuman , French Minister of Foreign Affairs, created under a international authority, a community of French and German coal production and of steel. The speech delivered that day is the founding text of the EEC.

• On APRIL 18 , 1851 , the Treaty of Paris brought together 6 European countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) to found the CECA . The latter will give birth in the EEC (1957-1995) then in the EU (1995 to the present day).

• In 1957 , the EEC (European Economic Community) and the EAEC or Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community) are born.

Organize European cooperation in the field of civil nuclear power to ensure self-sufficiency energy of the continent is a French desire. Euratom is an integral part of the Rome signed in 1957.

• The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) began in 1962

• The 6 organized the CUSTOMS UNION in 1968 .

Member States from 1973 to the present day

• 9 in 1973 : Entry of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom

• 10 in 1981 : Entry of Greece.

Signature of the SCHENGEN AGREEMENTS in June 1985 , providing for the progressive elimination borders between these states and the free movement of people. The Milan European Council establishes Europe Day in June 1985

• 12 in 1986 : Entry of Spain and Portugal. Signature of the Single Act setting the deadline for the completion of the single internal market on 31 December 1992 (in force on 1 January 1993).

Signature of the MAASTRICHT TREATY on the EU, in February 1992 (in force in November 1993) The EEC becomes the EC (European Community). It is made up of 3 pillars : the Communities (ECSC, EC, EAEC), the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). Institution of citizenship European; Strengthening the powers of the European Parliament; Launch of the Union economic and monetary (EMU) are its strong points.

• 15 in 1995 : Entry of Austria, Finland and Sweden

Signature of the AMSTERDAM TREATY in October 1997 (in force on May 1, 1999) It modifies the Treaty on European Union ( TEU ) and establishes the European Community ( TEC ) which acquires new areas of expertise.

The EURO ZONE in 1999

The Euro becomes the legal tender in the 11 states of the Euro Zone (Austria, Belgium, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and FRG). Greece joins the Zone Euro on January 1, 2001. It was Slovenia’s turn in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008, the Slovakia in 2009, Estonia on January 1, 2011, Latvia on January 1, 2014 and Lithuania on January 1, January 2015, bringing the number of countries in the euro area to 19. Coins and banknotes euro did not enter into circulation until January 1, 2002. Individuals could pay their taxes or issue checks in euros from 1999.

Signature of the NICE TREATY in 2001 (in force in February 2003). It modifies the TUE and the TCE by ensuring the proper functioning of the European institutions in anticipation of the next enlargement to the countries of central and eastern Europe.

European constitution

Project to create a European Constitution in December 2001 . It proposes an overhaul of treaties with a view to simplifying them and strengthening the Union with a view to enlargement. The debate is open beyond the representatives of European governments. 

Representatives of national parliaments, members of the European Commission and MEPs are added to it.

After 15 months (July 2003-October 2004), the Convention signs the new treaty in October 2004 in Rome . The following year ( May-June 2005 ), it was definitively rejected , following the referendum French and Dutch.

• 25 in 2004: Entry by the ATHENS TREATY of 10 new states in the EU. It’s about from Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia.

• 27 in 2007 : Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in January 2007 following the LISBON TREATY entered into force in April 2005. In June, a Conference convened intergovernmental committee drafts a draft amending treaty. Finally the 27 sign a new treaty in Lisbon in December. Only the Irish parliament poses problem. After a first rejection in June 2008, the treaty entered into force in December 2009. In France, constitutional reform is necessary to ratify the treaty.

Signature of the TREATY on STABILITY, COORDIATION and GOVERNANCE (TSCG) in March 2012. It prohibits the signatory states (except the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic) from structural deficit greater than 0.5% of GDP, modifying the sanction mechanisms. Step forward towards economic governance of the EU is a significant transfer of sovereignty in matters fiscal policy.

• 28 in 2013 : Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU following the TREATY in force in BRUSSELS in December 2011. There are now more than 508 million inhabitants in the Union.

BREXIT (2016-2019)

In the referendum on June 23 , a majority of Britons voted in favor of leaving their EU countries. UK notifies European Council of intention to leave EU, says

Article 50 of the TEU. Negotiations begin on June 19, 2017 . The end of negotiations between the UK government and the European Commission is set for March 29, 2019 . The January 31

2020 , the UK officially left the EU , ushering in a transition period, completed December 31, 2020.

Trade and cooperation agreement

The United Kingdom signed on December 30, 2020, a TRADE and COOPERATION with the EU. Pending its ratification by the European Parliament, it has been put provisionally applied on January 1, 2021. Since that date, this agreement determines the rules applicable to relationships in a number of areas. The law of the European Union has ceased to apply in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2020 at midnight.

Despite this agreement, customs formalities as well as sanitary and phytosanitary controls have been reinstated for the transport of goods . The free movement of people is no longer applicable. The entirety of migration controls have been restored to and from the United Kingdom. From now on, EU nationals wishing to settle in the United Kingdom must apply for a visa, and vice versa. Short stays (less than 3 months) are exempt from Visa.

Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, no customs duties are applicable to trade between the EU and the UK. This agreement also defines a privileged relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU, in trade matters, but also for cooperation in certain areas (police and judicial cooperation, social security coordination, transport, etc.).

Europe Day 2021

First celebrated in 1986, this celebration has a different taste this year following the global Covid-19 epidemic. However, it was possible to participate in many activities online . During the week, the European institutions offered virtual events in all countries (concerts, sound and light shows, debates, etc.)

May 9, 2021 is the date of the inauguration of the conference on the future of Europe. The citizens were able to express their views on their vision of the EU through a digital platform multilingual , launched on April 19, 2021 .

Activities in Paris

SAKHAROV: HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE HEART OF EUROPE

Square of the Town Hall

Place de l’Hotel de Ville 75004 Paris

From May 7, 2021 to May 19, 2021 (free)

FACE (S) OF EUROPE EXHIBITION

Gates of the Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques

39 rue de Rivoli 75004 Paris

From April 30, 2021 to May 12, 2021 (free)

THE PARVIS OF EUROPE

Square of the Town Hall

Square of the Hôtel de Ville 75004 Paris

From May 7, 2021 to May 12, 2021 (free)

MUSIC EUROPE DAY

Online 75000 Online

May 9, 2021 (free)

ROUND TABLES

Online 75000 Paris

May 9, 2021 (free)

Other activites

In 2019 , Luxembourg , one of the six signatory countries of the Treaty of Paris, instituted the date of May 9 as a legal holiday .

The office of the European Parliament in Marseille and the Regional Representation of the Commission European Union, in partnership with the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion and All Europe, have proposed to several cities and metropolises in France to dress a tramway train with colors of the Green Pact for Europe, as part of the  » Joli mois de l’Europe  » operation.

Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Orléans, Strasbourg, Tours, Valenciennes are participating in this action which is part of the “Joli mois de l’Europe”.

Each tram will run with a QR code , which will take you to the quiz :  » The Green Pact and the European Union «  on the pan-European platform ensemble.eu

About The Author