Brussels: The European Union on Saturday marked the 76th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the founding document that paved the way for European integration and the eventual creation of the EU. European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized that Europe Day belongs to all Europeans and highlighted the achievements made through collective action.

According to Anadolu Agency, Costa stated, "Today we celebrate our common European project and what we can achieve when we work together," in a message posted on the US social media platform X. He further added, "United in diversity, we keep building our shared future of peace, freedom and opportunity."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed the significance of Europe Day, describing it as a celebration of both European values and its citizens. "Today, we celebrate all that Europe stands for," von der Leyen wrote on X. "And we celebrate all of us, the citizens of Europe. Because all together, we are Europe," she added.

The Schuman Declaration, proposed on May 9, 1950, by then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, called for the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community. This initiative aimed to strengthen cooperation and prevent future wars in postwar Europe. The declaration is widely regarded as the first formal step toward the establishment of the European Union.