Today, the 9th of May, it’s Europe Day!
Above all, it is a day to pay tribute to all the European Union’s citizens.
Why on the 9th of May??
Because it makes reference to the 9th of May 1950. That day, the International Press was invited by the French Foreign ministry to the Clock Show, at the Quai d’Orsay, for a communication of the highest importance.
The first lines of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950 were jointly written by Robert Schuman, French foreign minister, and his assistant and friend, Jean Monnet.
This declaration was calling France, Germany and other European countries to pool together their coal and steel production as “the first concrete foundations of a European federation”, in the aftermath of WWII!
This proposition was broadly accepted, and the 9 of May 1950 was the first move towards the creation of what is now known as the European Union…
It’s during the European Council of Milan in 1985, Heads of State agreed upon commemorating this date each year, through a “Europe Day”, created for all the European Union’s citizens. (source: Europa.eu)
End of the cultural minute!
Talking about Europe, The PPI Blog will publish online very soon an article about the figures of the European market of promotional objects, created with the help of Sabine Geldermann from the association PSI Düsseldorf. This article will also attempt to explain why it is so difficult to gather data about the European market, whereas in the USA, figures are published each year…
I wish a good day to all the European citizens!