Every May 9th, Europe Day is celebrated — a symbolic occasion that commemorates peace and unity across the European continent. This date marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, a historic speech in which then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the creation of a supranational community to jointly manage coal and steel production between France and West Germany, two countries long embroiled in conflict. This proposal laid the foundation for what we now know as the European Union (EU).
Europe Day is not only a historical commemoration but also an opportunity to reflect on the present and future of the European project. In a global context marked by challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and digital transformation, cooperation among countries remains essential to ensuring the stability and well-being of their citizens.
The European Union must fulfill the concept of a societal community as described by sociologist Talcott Parsons—one that integrates different social actors—individuals, groups, and institutions—within a common framework of norms, values, and loyalties. Building this type of community is the main challenge for an increasingly plural Europe. It requires a political approach capable of establishing rules and operational structures that include all individuals and groups within society. The aim is to build a shared framework of values that can unite those living together in the same space. At this moment, European citizens need to move toward greater generalization of our norms and a true universalization of our values, so that we may coexist peacefully within a shared territory. The goal is to achieve a European societal community not based on a common ethnic origin, religion, or language, but rather on principles and norms that make living together in diversity possible.
May 9th, therefore, is not only a day to look back, but also a time to reaffirm our commitment to a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable European future. The history of the European Union shows that many of its most significant transformations have emerged during times of adversity. The key lies in whether it can adapt, modernize, and strengthen its democratic legitimacy. Celebrating Europe Day is a reminder that, despite our differences, we share a common destiny.
Editor of Daily 27.
Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology in University of Barcelona.