by
Thea Pieridou
Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus
Every year, on Europe Day, we honour a historic idea and a shared journey—that of a united Europe. It is a day that gives us the opportunity to celebrate dialogue, cooperation, peace, solidarity, unity, and of course all the common principles and values that bind us together in Europe. A day to remember why Europe exists. And why it must continue to exist.
Europe, after all, is not always most visible in easy times. It is not defined only by its achievements. It is mainly in moments of crisis and periods of uncertainty and challenge that it truly reveals itself and becomes more tangible—when it is called upon to demonstrate in practice the democracy and values it embodies.
It was precisely from such a moment of trial that the European project itself was born. Seventy-six years ago, on 9 May 1950, the then French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, presented his vision that was to change the course of Europe, ensuring that the horrors of war could never be repeated. The Schuman Declaration was not an abstract statement, but a concrete political response to a historical crisis. Jean Monnet, the driving force behind this project, wrote many years later: “…nothing is possible without people, but nothing is lasting without institutions.” And it is precisely the building of common supranational institutions, such as the European Parliament—the only European institution whose members are directly elected by European citizens—that guarantees the continuation of the many invaluable benefits enjoyed today by citizens across all 27 Member States of our Union.
Today, unfortunately, we are living in turbulent times, an era full of serious challenges and many questions. Rising global tensions, wars in our neighbourhood, energy insecurity, migration pressures, difficulties in accessing affordable housing, and climate change all directly affect our daily lives. And the EU is taking action to respond to citizens’ expectations and address these challenges.
In this context, the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union acquires particular importance. It is a very significant responsibility, but also a meaningful opportunity for our country to actively contribute to shaping European priorities during a particularly demanding period for Europe.
And we must never forget that the EU is, above all, a project of peace and solidarity for our continent. The recent events in our region last March gave this understanding an even more concrete dimension. In a period of heightened tension, European support was not expressed only in statements. It became action through the mobilisation and tangible support of EU Member States towards Cyprus. In this way, something essential was confirmed: that Europe is not a distant concept, but a community that acts and responds when circumstances require it.
This was also reflected in the words of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who emphasised that Cyprus is not and will never be alone, and that its security is inseparably linked to the security of the European Union itself.
This year’s Europe Day is more than an anniversary. It is a reminder of the EU’s fundamental mission: to achieve lasting conditions of peace. Because without peace, there can be no European cooperation in any field. And for all of us in the European Parliament, the EU is not something given. It is a daily commitment—to keep alive the shared principles and values on which Europe was built, the values of Robert Schuman, and to translate them, every time, every day, into our choices and our actions.
