Libertas.org

May 9th every year is Europe Day (also less commonly known as Schuman Day), it marks the day were the vision of a European Union was conceived.

On May 9th 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman gave a speech calling for European countries to combine their coal and steel production under a single European body, the idea being, to intrinsically link coal and steel would result in closer cooperation between the European countries, and to rule out the chance of any further conflict in Europe.

The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany….. the solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. - Robert Schuman

Schuman recognised that the progress and success of Europe would be as much about economic prosperity than anything else.

So, from the six member states who joined the European Coal & Steel Community in 1951, we now have a European Union of 27 member states.

From 1950 onwards, Europe has evolved through a number of forms, from an economic community, to an inter-governmental union.

So what of the future of Europe? There has been much talk of a European Constitution, which due to a number of countries voting no, had been relegated it to the past. That is until recently. There is growing momentum to bring in a constitution through the back door.

Libertas believes it important that any progress in Europe is persued for the benefit of the citizens of Europe and whilst a ‘constitution’ may be just what’s needed, it needs to be understandable and accountable, two key features lacking from the current proposed text.

Greater accountability in governance of the EU, a more competitive economy across Europe, a stronger assertion by the EU of human rights, greater advocacy of democracy across the world and an EU-led values campaign to push for real human dignity globally are all things that are urgently required.

As the European flag waves today across the 27 member states, we need not only look to where the European Union has come from, but what it can achieve in the future.