Europe Day is marked on May 9 every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman Declaration’. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable.
What was the idea behind the community?
The idea of the community was that its founding members France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg would pool their coal and steel resources and create a common market for them by lifting import and export duties.
The idea was partly economic: French foreign minister Robert Schuman’s proposition came just five years after World War Two. But it was also political. The idea was that by merging the economic interests of France and Germany, it would reduce the risk of conflict in the future.
A treaty creating such a body was signed just under a year later. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.
The Single European Act of 1985 set the objective of creating a single common market, while the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 saw the birth of the European Union, then featuring 12 countries, and set the path to economic and monetary union.
The Europe Continent:
Europe is a unique continent, which is not surrounded by water from all directions and has an overland border with neighboring Asia. Physiographically, it occupies the northwestern part of the large landmass known as Eurasia and surrounded from the north by the Arctic Ocean, from the west by the Atlantic Ocean, from the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southeast by the Black Sea.
Europe includes 51 independent states. Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are transcontinental countries, partially located in both Europe and Asia. Armenia and Cyprus politically are considered European countries, though geographically they are located in the West Asia territory.
Europe’s largest country is Russia (37% of the total continent area), and the smallest one is Vatican City, which occupies only a tiny territory in the center of Rome.
The most visited travel destination in this part of the world is France with its capital Paris as the best place of interest, followed by Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
World Asthma Day 2020: History, Significance and Theme of the year
How is Europe Day celebrated?
EU day is intended to raise awareness about the goals of Robert Schuman. The EU opens the doors in Brussels and Strasbourg to people in early May to celebrate Europe Day. Hundreds and thousands of people take part in activities related to the EU. Different EU communities organize various events, debates, and concerts to mark the day.
Year 2020, being a tough year, the world is fighting COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the celebration of Europe Day will take place through various online activities, celebrations, and awareness programs. This day will also help the governments to commemorate and stand in solidarity with all the nations that have been fighting the Corona Crisis.
Amazing Facts about Europe:
It was named after the Phoenician princess Europa
The Ancient Greeks divided the world into three major units, Europe, Asia, and Libya. There are several theories on how Europe got its name, but one of the most popular legends is the one where the Phoenician Princess Europa was kidnapped by Zeus.
Europeans eat 50% of all the world’s chocolate
And yes, we love chocolate. More than 50% of the total world production of chocolate is sold and eaten by Europeans. Switzerland has the highest consumption per capita, second to Germany.
Every supermarket on the continent will sell some kind of chocolate.
The first humans arrived here around 38,000 B.C
This time was known as the Upper Palaeolithic and the first Europeans are thought to have come from Central and West Asia. Europeans also have the highest amount of Neanderthal which strengthens the theory of Neanderthals and Modern humans mixed from time to time. Neanderthals lived on the continent before modern humans arrived some 40,000 years ago.
Blonde hair in humans developed in Northern Europe
Blonde hair is believed to have evolved to enable a more efficient synthesis of vitamin D, because there is less sunlight in Northern Europe. Scientists have estimated that the mutation that resulted in blonde hair in Europe happened during the last ice age, some 11,000 years ago.
Almost half of the world’s wine is produced on the continent
Italy, Spain, and France are the biggest wine-producing countries in Europe, and together they account for about 70% of the total wine production in the world. But Europeans love their wine, and most European countries have at least a small production of local wines.
