Among the stars who left their mark on European integration, let me introduce you to Robert Schuman!

Eureka: Schuman 'Father of Europe'

a former French Foreign Minister,  was a pioneering European.

His father was German,  of French origin,

and his mother was from Luxembourg.  Schuman was born German in 1886.

But he became French in 1918  when his region changed nationality.

At the end of the war, he wanted  to reconcile the French and Germans.

This would be his contribution  to creating the European Union.

He was one of the founding fathers  with the Frenchman Jean Monnet,

Italian Alcide de Gasperi  and German Konrad Adenauer.

Europe lay in ruins  and everything had to be rebuilt.

by creating and strengthening  European bonds.

He aimed to find a way of reconciliating  France and Germany for good.

Three years after the war,  here he was as French Foreign Minister.

Representing France, he negotiated  important post-war agreements.

He then devised a plan  for European integration.

The plan was to pool  the former enemies' war materials.

In fact, it was his friend, founding father  Jean Monnet who gave him the idea.

The bold project was to change  Europe's history.

Robert Schuman launched  the project in 1950.

In the spring of 1950, Robert Schuman  gave a speech written by Jean Monnet

He invited Germany to form links  with France and others,

and Schuman ceremoniously  announced the union project,

A united Europe was not achieved  and we had war.

Europe will not be made all at once,  nor according to a single plan.

It will be built by concrete achievements,  which will first create genuine solidarity.

This famous speech has become very  well-known as it is the basis of the EU.

A year later, this genuine solidarity  became reality.

The European Coal and Steel  Community brought together France,

Germany, Italy, Belgium,  the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

In 1957, still representing France,  Schuman signed the Treaty of Rome.

The European Economic Community  laid the foundations

The EEC and ECSC created the  forerunner to the European Parliament.

In 1958, Robert Schuman  became its first president.

the Parliamentary Assembly gave him  the title 'Father of Europe'.

Even the Commission roundabout  is named after him

Don't forget that it all started  on that very 9th May 1950

with the famous Schuman Declaration.  Bye.