On Thursday, May 9, Ukraine celebrates Europe Day.
As Ukrinform reports, this holiday was introduced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s decree No. 266/2023 dated May 8, 2023.
“Aware of the European identity of the Ukrainian people, with the aim of strengthening the unity of the peoples of Europe, ensuring peace, security and stability on the European continent, attesting to the commitment to the ideals and values of democracy, supporting the initiatives of youth and other public associations, I decide to establish Europe Day in Ukraine, to be celebrated every year on May 9, jointly with the European Union states,” it is stated in documents
The decree also provides for the loss of validity of the previous presidential decree of April 19, 2003 No. 339/2003 “On Europe Day”, according to which Europe Day was celebrated in Ukraine every year on the third Saturday of May.
Read also: Europe Day is special, Ukrainian
As point out at the Institute of National Remembrance, after the end of the Second World War, European countries began to consider the principles of political cooperation and economic cooperation. Finally, on May 9, 1950, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Schuman, took the initiative to establish joint coordination and control of heavy industry in Europe. He suggested the development of common policy principles to achieve solidarity in this particular field. The European Coal and Steel Community was supposed to be the path to the implementation of the Schuman Plan. According to Schumann’s idea, France, Germany and other European countries were to transfer the management of coal and steel production to a single body. As a result of such unification, the key branches of the military industry were also to come under joint control, which would make it impossible for a separate country to prepare for a new war.
As a result, on April 18, 1951, an agreement on the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community was signed in Paris. It was first ratified by six countries: France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries – Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The organization was open to other European countries. It is now considered that the Schumann Declaration officially started the process of European integration. That is why Europe Day is celebrated in the EU on May 9.
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Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Telegrams wrote that Ukraine has proven that it shares European values and defends them from Russian barbarians every day.
“This day is primarily about unity, mutual support and respect. Ukraine has proven that it shares European values. Every day we defend them, we defend our freedom from the encroachments of Russian barbarians. Every day we bring the country closer to membership in the European Union. Because Ukraine is Europe. Mentally and spiritually,” he emphasized.
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Today in Vilnius, during a speech in the Seimas of Lithuania on the occasion of Europe Day, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Lithuania is a country that, since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, extended a helping hand to it, accepting Ukrainian refugees and becoming one of the largest donors for percentage of national GDP.
“You have always been ready to fight not only for your own freedom, but also for the freedom of all Europeans. You have been steadfast in your support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence since the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, your solidarity has been impressive,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
She noted that for many years Lithuania has warned Europe about the danger emanating from Russia.
“After 2014, you told us that Putin will not stop. Europe should have listened. But too much time has passed to realize the threat from Putin’s Russia. Today, the European Union is completely on your side for freedom and against aggression,” Von der Leyen stressed.
