Charles Michel stresses "firm determination" to continue building EU
The President of the European Council stressed today the "firm determination" of the leaders of the European Union (EU) to "continue building" the European project, as Europe Day is celebrated one month before the European elections.
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Mundo Europa
"Today is Europe Day and it is an occasion to reaffirm our firm determination to continue to build, piece by piece, the European project that unites us all", said Charles Michel in a video published on the social network X on the occasion of the date.
"The EU is, first and foremost, an idea. It is, above all, a dream, a dream of a reconciled and united Europe, a dream of a Europe that works for prosperity and for improving people's living conditions", added the President of the European Council.
Today is Europe Day, but it is also one month before the elections for the European Parliament, scheduled for 6 to 9 June (in Portugal, the vote is on the latter date).
Europe Day is celebrated in more than 60 European cities, including in Portugal, with various initiatives and with several monuments illuminated with messages alluding to the EU and appealing for a vote in the European elections.
This year's edition of Europe Day takes place 45 years after the first European elections in 1979.
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome and the Grand Place in Brussels are among the many landmarks that will be illuminated as part of the event, which in Portugal will include more than 30 monuments or buildings, including the Belém Tower, the Cristo Rei, the São Bento Palace, the Bragança Castle, the "Anemone" sculpture in Matosinhos or the buildings of the Paços do Concelho de Coimbra and Tomar.
In these locations, the colours of the EU flag -- blue and yellow -- or the slogan of the campaign for the European elections will be displayed: "Use your vote. Or others will decide for you."
Europe Day refers to the date in 1950 when the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman delivered the "Schuman Declaration", in which he proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, the founding basis of what is now the EU.
The date was first celebrated in 1986 and has come to represent the peace and unity of the European continent.
Read also: Metsola marks Europe Day in the "land of the brave" (Portuguese version)
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