President Michael D Higgins joined European leaders on Sunday in calling on people to continue advocating for a “a Europe that is whole, free, united and at peace” to mark Europe Day. The following year, the treaty of Paris set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), while the European Economic Community which followed went on to become the European Union. It notes that this year’s Europe Day also marks the beginning of the Conference on the Future of Europe - a citizen-led series of discussions on how to shape the future of the union. Also marking Europe Day, the European Movement Ireland group tweeted a video of John Hume speaking in Strasbourg in 1998. “The philosophy that created European Union and the peace of Europe is the philosophy that is at the heart of our (Belfast) agreement,” said Hume.

Source: The Irish Times May 09, 2021 14:15 UTC