Europe Day: A renewed commitment to peace, democracy and human rights 75 years after the Schuman Declaration
Europe Day is celebrated every May 9, a commemorative date that invites us to reflect on the origins, the journey and the future of the European project. This day celebrates the Schuman Declaration, pronounced in 1950, as the starting point of a united Europe, whose raison d’être is to ensure peace and cooperation among peoples after the horror of the Second World War.
This declaration marked the beginning of a cooperation that has evolved into today’s European Union, made up of 27 member states that share common principles such as respect for human rights, democracy, freedom and the rule of law, which are formally enshrined in the Treaty on European Union.
On the 75th anniversary of the Schuman declaration, the European institutions have invited all citizens to take part in events taking place in different locations of the European Union, with the intention of promoting greater knowledge about the European institutions, their functioning and the impact they have on daily life.
In addition, this 2025 the Council of Europe has designated the year as the European Year of Education for Digital Citizenship, an initiative that aims to promote civic participation in digital environments, recognizing the importance of equipping citizens with the necessary skills to function ethically and effectively in the digital world, therefore, during this year, various activities and educational programs will be carried out throughout Europe.
Although this commemoration highlights the progress made by the continent with the consolidation of a long period of peace among member countries, the current global context, characterized by climate emergency, the rise of authoritarian movements, armed violence and growing disinformation, should not be ignored.
As highlighted by the European Commission representation in Spain, this May 9 is an opportunity to renew the commitment to unity, solidarity and common action in the face of major global challenges such as the democratic deficit.
In this regard, the EU tries to reinforce and strengthen its democratic sense through the celebration of European elections, considered the largest transnational elections in the world. The last elections took place between June 6 and 9, 2024 and counted with a high citizen participation, once again exceeding 50% on average throughout the Union, despite the challenges arising from disinformation and political polarization.
Among the issues that most motivated European voters in 2024 were rising costs, especially in housing, the economic situation, the current international context and situation, the defense of democratic values, migration and asylum, the need to act urgently in the face of the climate crisis, and security and defense in the European Union. As a result of these citizens’ priorities, the new European Parliament has reaffirmed its commitment to just ecological transition policies, the protection of human rights and the strengthening of rule of law mechanisms in the Member States.
On the legislative front, 2024 also saw the final adoption of the European Regulation on Freedom of the Media, which aims to protect journalistic independence and combat undue media concentration. This regulation, already in force, represents a crucial step forward in safeguarding the plurality of opinions and guaranteeing access to truthful information, especially in a context of growing threats to freedom of expression in several European countries.
In the face of current challenges, such as the climate emergency, the rise of authoritarianism and disinformation, this anniversary invites a renewed commitment to unity and solidarity.Growing citizen participation, especially in European elections, reflects an interest in defending democratic principles, which are today being reinforced by new initiatives, such as the promotion of education for digital citizenship and the protection of media freedom. Europe’s future depends on its ability to adapt to these global challenges, maintaining a firm focus on human rights and the rule of law, while facing the challenges presented by the modern world.
Margarita Villegas, FIBGAR collaborator
