What is Europe Day?
Europe Day, on 9 May, celebrates peace and unity in Europe and commemorates the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950, in which the French foreign minister Robert Schuman proposed pooling French, German and other coal and steel production. This led to the European Coal and Steel Community, set up in 1951, the first of the institutions that became the European Union. The anniversary is marked by European institutions, schools and many local authorities. It is a public holiday for EU institution staff, but not in most member states.
The EU marks it with open days at its institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg, concerts, debates and cultural events across member states. The flag of Europe, a circle of twelve gold stars on blue, is flown from public buildings. The Council of Europe, a separate organisation, marks its own Europe Day on 5 May, the anniversary of its founding in 1949. In Finland and Germany the day is a flag day, and in Romania it coincides with the State Independence Day.
Why it is observed
The leaders of the European Community, meeting in Milan in June 1985, adopted 9 May as Europe Day, together with the European flag. The Schuman Declaration was prepared with Jean Monnet and aimed to make war between France and Germany not only unthinkable but materially impossible. Luxembourg, whose capital hosts several EU institutions, made 9 May a public holiday in 2019. Moldova has marked Europe Day officially on 9 May since 2017, on the same date as Victory Day.
How the date is set
Europe Day is fixed on 9 May. It is a public holiday in Luxembourg and Moldova, and a day of events and flag-flying in other European Union countries.
How it is observed
Europe Day is a public holiday in Luxembourg, with banks, offices and schools closed, and in Moldova, where 9 May is also Victory Day. Kosovo also marks it as a public holiday. In most other EU countries it is a normal working day with special events, and in Finland a flag day. Visitors can expect open days at EU institutions, where registration may be needed. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract.
Sources
Luxembourg
Moldova