Europe Day is a celebration that takes place every May 9th in the European Union, named in memory of the Schuman Declaration. The French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, took the first step towards the integration of European states proposing that coal and steel from Germany (then West Germany) and France (and other countries to adhere) to submit to a joint administration, promoting the creation of the first European Community: the coal and steel, being hence the origin of the current European Union.

The importance of this proposal made in 1950, five years after the surrender of the Nazi regime and to a Europe devastated by World War II, is that in addition to submitting the two indispensable productions of the arms industry to a single authority, countries participating in this organization would find great difficulty in case you want to start a war between them.

The commemoration of this date has been taking place since 1985, after the approval by the Heads of State and Government at the European Council. Despite being the only official day of celebration in the European Union, it is considered a business day and celebrations organized by Member States do not usually equate to those performed on the occasion of national holidays in each state. So while nationally this holiday is not usually find much echo, it is common to see the education sector and some organizations perform specific activities to commemorate the day.

Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, made the statement that bears his name on May 9th, 1950. It proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel whose members would share the production of coal and steel. CECA (originally formed by France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of a series of supranational institutions that would become what is now the European Union. Historical Context

In 1950, five years after the end of World War I, European nations were still struggling to overcome its ravages. European governments, determined that the war between France and Germany, historic rivals, would be "not only unthinkable, but materially impossible “ due to the pooling of coal and steel production.

It was thought, rightly, that the fusion of economic interests help to raise the standard of living and will be the first step towards a united Europe. Joining the ECSC was open to other countries.

Key quotes: "World peace can not be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.“ "Europe will not be made all at once or according to a set: it will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity." "The pooling of the coal and steel (...) change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of weapons, which they themselves have been the first victims."

Watch Fair (Salon de l'Horloge); his back to the fireplace Schuman

gave the speech.

There have been many people who have participated in the construction of the European Communities, first, and the European Union (EU) then call from the Schuman Declaration of 1950. Lots of these people have played a prominent role in the life of their own countries of origin, role may be even more significant than that represented within the Union. Although commonly known as "Fathers of Europe" Adenauer, Monnet, Schuman and De Gasperi, the European Commission (EC) officially considered as such as Konrad Adenauer, Jean Monnet, Winston Churchill, Robert Schuman, Alcide de Gasperi, Paul-Henri Spaak , Walter Hallstein and Spinelli.

Robert Schuman

Jean Monnet Konrad Adenauer

Winston Churchill

Konrad Adenauer (1876 - 1967) was the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG ) from 1949 to 1963 maintained a policy to incorporate West Germany after World War II , fully the Western bloc , ensuring reconciliation, Germany with France and the other Allied powers . From the beginning welcomed positively what Robert Schuman proposed and strongly supported the creation of the European Communities.

Jean Monnet (1888 - 1979) was the one who conceived the strategy of starting with the economic integration of Europe , in order to promote material solidarity to counterbalance national particularities and be the basis for a future political union. He participated in 1948 in the creation of the Council of Europe in The Hague and in the development of the Schuman (1950 ) Declaration. From 1952 to 1955 he was the first president of the ECSC and emerged , which is the embryo of the subsequent European Economic Community. Therefore, the European Council Jean Monnet gave the title of " Honorary Citizen of Europe " in 1976 and was awarded the Robert Schuman Prize for his services to the cause of Europe.

Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) , was a politician and British statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. It is considered one of the great wartime leaders and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in two periods ( 1940-1945 and 1951-1955 ) .

Robert Schuman (1886 - 1963) was a French politician of Germany- from Luxembourg originally. It is considered one of the "fathers of Europe" in reference to its decisive role in creating the Europeans. As Communities founding member of the Popular Republican Movement (MRP ), was one of the main leaders of the French Fourth Republic , being Minister of Finance , Chairman of France, Foreign Minister and Minister of Justice. He also served as Member of the Moselle between 1919 and 1962 , with a break between 1942 and 1946.

His tenure as Foreign Minister (1948-1952) , led him to become the leading French negotiator of the treaties between the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War (Council of Europe , NATO, ECSC, etc. . ). In addition , it was he who first proposed the May 9th, 1950 , a project of European integration, which would create the European Coal and Steel Community. It was also the first former president of the European Parliamentary Assembly (1958-1960) , the current European Parliament.

Alcide de Gasperi (1881 - 1954) ran Italy between 1945 and 1953 eight successive governments. He was also foreign minister. He got Italy to accede to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and he actively supported the project of the European Defense Community. Shortly before his death, became the first president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the ECSC.

Paul-Henri Spaak (1899 - 1972), Belgian politician, one of the initiators of the customs union of Belgium with the Netherlands and Luxembourg, which would result in the Benelux.

Walter Hallstein (1901 - 1982), was a German politician and the first president of the European Commission. Spinelli (1901 - 1982) was an Italian politician, staunch advocate of European federalism. His most important role was held as an advocate of the integration process happened during the decades following World War II.

The single institutional framework of the European Union (EU) is the concrete expression of the principle of the uniqueness of this international organization. Institutional organization is made up of institutions and bodies to which the Member States confer competences to the exercise by Community their powers and sovereignty. It seeks certain institutional decisions and actions come from supranational bodies which will apply in all Member States and disavowing national bodies in each country.

The European flag is a symbol of not only the EU but also of European unity and identity in a wider sense. The European flag consists of 12 yellow stars arranged in a circle on a blue background. The stars symbolize the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony between the people of Europe. The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of EU countries, although the circle itself is a symbol of unity.

It was designed by Arsène Heitz, a painter in Strasbourg, with the stated purpose of which was used by as many organizations as possible, thereby facilitating the integration of Europe.

The euro is the official currency of the European Union since January 1st, 1999. In the euro zone also circulates eleven other European countries, both official and non-agreed form.

It entered into service progressively from January 1st, 2002, replacing the old national currencies of the countries that now use it.

The euro is used every day by some 332 million Europeans. It is the most tangible cooperation between the EU test. Its advantages are obvious for anyone traveling abroad or shopping online at websites Sites

The melody symbolizing the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony and was composed by Beethoven in 1823. He decided to put music to the poem "Ode to Joy" written by Schiller in 1785. The hymn symbolizes not only the European Union but also to Europe in a wider sense. The poem "Ode to Joy" expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of brotherhood among human beings, a vision Beethoven shared.

In 1972, the Council of Europe became the theme of "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven in his hymn. In 1985, it was adopted by EU leaders as the official hymn of the European Union. Without words, in the universal language of music, this hymn is an expression of European ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity. The European hymn is not intended to replace the national hymns of the countries of the EU, but rather to celebrate the values they all share.

"United in diversity", the motto of the European Union, first used in 2000. It refers to the way in which Europeans have united, forming the EU to work for peace and prosperity, while benefiting from the great diversity of cultures, traditions and languages of the continent.

The EU itself does not issue passports, but the passports issued by its 28 member states share certain design characteristics . The passports of the member states are burgundy, with the shield of the Member State of the European Union at the center of the front cover of the passport. The words "Passport" and "European Union" ("European Community" up to 1997), in the official language of the country, are registered under the shield, next to the country name. Since 2009 these passports are biometric and have the biometric symbol at the bottom.

All information contained herein was obtained through the web, links to pages used are:1.- http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Día_de_Europa2.- http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/europe-day/schuman-declaration/index_es.htm3.-http://europa.eu/abouteu/basicinformation/symbols/motto/index_es.htm4.- http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padres_de_Europa5.- http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/symbols/index_es.htm6.- http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasaportes_de_la_Unión_Europea7.- http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instituciones_de_la_Unión_Europea

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