Working on our shared values

EUROPEAN UNION

- DAVID DALY

The European Union was born from the ashes of the Second World War to break the cycle of wars between historical enemies.

On May 9, 1950, French foreign minister Robert Schuman presented a historical declaration proposing to jointly manage, through a single supranational authority, the industries needed to wage war — coal, iron, steel. The Schuman Declaration was adopted by six countries — Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; May 9 is since considered the founding day of the EU.

The European Coal and Steel Community, launched in 1950, steadily evolved into the EU of 27 countries today. Member States increasingly pooled their sovereignty to achieve a single integrated market, a common external trade policy, and a common currency (euro), coordinate decisions on foreign and security policy and global issues, and allow free movement of people across the EU. The 27 Members have become so interconnected that war would be impossible, besides being unthinkable. The EU is the world’s most successful peace and integration project, standing for unity in diversity.