May 9 - Europe Day and Day of Victory over Fascism

BELGRADE - May 9, marked as the day of victory over fascism and Nazism in World War II, is also celebrated as Europe Day to commemorate the day when the then French foreign minister Robert Schuman laid the foundations of a united Europe in 1950.

Sixty-four years ago today, just after the end of World War II, at a time when the mistrust between arch-enemies France and Germany was still running deep, Schuman published a document that would go down in history as the Schuman Declaration, proposing the establishment of a European federation as a means of preserving peace.

Schuman's plan is today considered the start of the European integration process, with Schuman himself regarded as the father of the European Union.

Alongside France and Germany, the initiative to create the European Coal and Steel Community was joined by Italy, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.

A year later, on April 18, 1951, the Treaty of Paris was signed, giving rise to the first of the three European communities.

Subsequently, the European Economic Community was established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, while the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 resulted in the emergence of the European Union.

In 1985, the European Council chose May 9 as Europe Day, which went on to be celebrated not only in the EU, but worldwide as well.

May 9 is also celebrated globally as the World War II Victory Day to commemorate the day of Nazi Germany's unconditional capitulation in 1945.

German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Soviet Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov and British Royal Air Force Marshal Arthur Tedder signed the act of capitulation on behalf of Germany, the Soviet Union and the Western allies, respectively.