To mark Europe Day and the 70th anniversary of the Schuman declaration, the European Parliament hosts a “stay-at-home” Open Day, where doors are opened to citizens virtually, with a programming schedule across EP media channels. This year, the focus is on EU citizens, particularly those directly helping in the crisis, as well as on informing citizens about and debating on EU solidarity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brussels

KARAS, Othmar (EPP, AT)

ceremony

BARLEY, Katarina (S&D, DE)

70th anniversary of the Schuman declaration (T)

Open day 2020 (T)

Europe Day - Schuman Declaration Anniversary 70 Years of Solidary: atmosphere and extracts of the opening of stay-at-home Europe Day !

Logo Europe day 2020, 70 Years of Solidarity.

Opening of the event: Europe day - Schuman Declaration Anniversary, 70 Years of Solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Albrecht John , DG COMM, Good morning, Five years after the end of the World War II, on 9 May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman surprised the world with an ambitious plan to overcome century old division and conflict in Europe. Countries that have fought each other decided to work together. Unity and solidarity was the way forward. To remember this iconic moment, we, therefore, celebrate Europe Day on 9 May with a wide variety of activities. We normally open the doors of the European institutions to the citizens.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie Ramot, DC COMM, This year, 75 years after the end of the Second World War and 70 years after the Schuman Declaration, the world is once again facing a deep crisis, this time in the form of COVID19. Many of us fear for our lives, our loved ones, our jobs and our future ... Our whole society has been turned upside down by this epidemic and we have no idea what this "next world" will be like. But then again, unity and solidarity will help us all to overcome this crisis. (...) We invite you to listen together to the European anthem, performed by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate Europe Day.

European anthem . Views with musicians of Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra playing simultaneously from their homes.

SOUNDBITE (German), Othmar KARAS (EPP, AT), EP Vice-president, <a></a>We must put much more at the community level, to guarantee our future, and to overcome the challenges We must strengthen the Community Cool and Steel. There are things to be considered as fairness, health, justice and social cohesion. Today that is what Europe needs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Katarina BARLEY (S&amp;D, DE), EP Vice-President, Being a daughter of a British father and a German mother. The idea of peace on this continent - not only for me personally, but for a lot of people who whose families have been hurt by it, by countless wars on this continent - is still extremely relevant. And the European Union has proven to be the good way of preserving peace on this continent. And the idea of Robert Schuman is still absolutely relevant, that countries that talk to each other permanently, not only once or twice a year, but permanently. Who - yes, discuss, even fight, struggle -but in the end come to compromises together that they are kind of woven into each into each other. That this is a community.