European Day - 9th May

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:01]1945.

[00:00:03]Europe had emerged from the darkest period in its history. Cities lay in ruins and borders had been drawn in the name of hatred. Yet, one man believed that peace could only be preserved through creative efforts. May 9th, 1950, when the clock struck 6 p.m. in Paris.

[00:00:19]Robert Schuman did not merely read a declaration.

[00:00:23]>> He took that bold step that would change the fate of a continent that had been at war for centuries.

[00:00:29]Schuman's vision was simple yet revolutionary to place coal and steel, the raw materials of war under common management.

[00:00:38]This was not merely an economic partnership, but the first bond of brotherhood forged among the peoples of Europe.

[00:00:47]The creative peace initiative he launched that day became the foundation of a vast network of solidarity, the European Union, where nearly 450 million people now live together.

[00:01:03]Exactly one year after Robert Schuman's call, the European Coal and Steel Community was officially established with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1951. This marked the first concrete step toward European integration. The six founding countries, France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, laid the institutional foundation for lasting peace on the continent by placing the raw materials of war under the control of a super national authority, the scope of cooperation, which expanded with the 1957 Treaty of Rome, eventually evolved beyond a mere market partnership. In the 1970s, it expanded northward with the accession of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark. And in the 1980s, it expanded southward with the inclusion of Greece, Spain, and Portugal.

[00:01:47]Countries emerging from military dictatorships, thus becoming the greatest defender of democracy in Europe. The Mastrict Treaty, which came into force in 1993, transformed the community into the European Union. The focus was no longer solely on trade, but also on a common foreign policy, security, and the concept of European citizenship. The Big Bang expansion of 2004 finally brought an end to the decades long division between the continent's eastern and western blocks that had persisted since the Cold War.

[00:02:13]The enlargement process continued in 2007 with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. This phase strengthened the Union's influence in Southeast Europe while extending the EU's borders to the Black Sea. Both countries joined the union after completing comprehensive reform processes in the judicial and economic sectors in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria with Croatia's accession as the 28th member state in 2013. The enlargement process entered a new phase. This accession was hailed as a model of institutional success demonstrating the Western Balkan's ability to align with European standards. However, the history of the union is not limited to expansions.

[00:02:48]Following the 2016 referendum, the Brexit process was completed on January 31st, 2020 with the United Kingdom's official withdrawal from the European Union. This withdrawal marked the first instance in the union's history of a member state leaving the block and added a new dimension to the debate on European integration. Today, this structure comprising 27 member states represents the world's most advanced model of super national organization in which sovereign rights are shared in certain areas. This framework reflects the current boundaries of the common market and legal union which have been preserved despite crisis and shifting dynamics.

[00:03:30]The European Union is not merely a political bond among member states. It is a concrete set of rights that directly affects the daily lives of citizens.

[00:03:39]At the heart of this structure lie the four fundamental freedoms. the free movement of goods, services, capital, and most importantly, people. The abolition of internal border controls within the Shenhen area allows more than 450 million citizens to travel, work, and settle freely across the continent.

[00:03:59]Programs like Arasmus Plus for young people break down barriers to education.

[00:04:04]While the common labor market ensures the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, in economic terms, the single market and the common currency, the euro, minimize trade barriers while enhancing price stability and competitiveness.

[00:04:17]Furthermore, EU citizens are protected by the highest standards of consumer rights, data privacy, and environmental protection laws, no matter where they are in the world. However, these benefits are not limited to economic data alone.

[00:04:33]The union aims to promote social welfare across the board by supporting the development of each region through local projects and solidarity funds.

[00:04:47]So who is at the heart of this vast economic and political structure? The true driving force behind the European Union is not its borders or treaties, but the young people who keep this structure alive with their ideas, projects, and curiosity. Today, volunteer projects and youth forums across Europe have become the most powerful platforms for civil society to make its voice heard. Young people are not only answering questions, they are building a shared vision for the future on issues such as democracy, the environment, and digital transformation.

[00:05:17]In conclusion, Europe is not merely a geographical boundary or an economic partnership. It is the collective voice of millions who wake up every morning with a dream of a fairer, freer, and more sustainable world. On this journey, where borders fade away and differences become a source of richness. The real story is just beginning. For the future lies not in the successes of the past, but in the bold decisions of today and the dreams we build together.