On 10 September 1952, Paul-Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in Strasbourg. It was the starting point of today’s European Parliament.

In 70 years, the Assembly has grown in strength. Born as a consultative body with limited powers, it has become a true institution embracing European democracy and the expression of European public opinion. It changed name and became the European Parliament in 1962, a further step towards becoming the only directly elected, multilingual, multi-party transnational parliament in the world.

EP President Roberta Metsola opened&nbsp;the ceremony of the 70 year of the EP, that took place in Strasbourg, followed by speeches by the Prime Ministers of Parliament’s three host countries - French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Alexander de Croo of Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

70th anniversary of the European Parliament

Event 70 years of Parliamentary democracy at the Royal Palace

Reception hosted by His Majesty the King of the Belgians on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the European Parliament: arrivals and extracts from the address by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Elisabeth BORNE, French Prime Minister,  Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister and  Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourg Prime Minister group photo ahead the solemn ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament

Roberta METSOLA welcomes Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourg Prime Minister

Solemn ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: one round Political group leaders

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Élisabeth BORNE, French Prime Minister

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourgish Prime Minister

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: statement by Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister

EP Plenary session - Solemn ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: extracts from the ceremony

Ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament: opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Xavier BETTEL, Luxembourgish Prime Minister: arrival and welcome

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Élisabeth BORNE, French Prime Minister: arrival and welcome

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Alexander DE CROO, Belgian Prime Minister: arrival and welcome

Slideshow: European Parliament - 70 years of European democracy in action

Parliament: 70 years of European democracy in action

Constitutive session of the European Parliamentary Assembly: appointment of Robert SCHUMAN as President of the Assembly

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