In his book entitled The Symbols of the European Union, Carlo Curti Gialdino, Professor of International Law at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ and Legal Secretary at the Court of Justice of the European Communities from 1982 to 2000, explains why 9 May was chosen as Europe Day.

Le projet français de Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier est volontairement entouré d'un grand secret. Au début, neuf personnes seulement en sont informées: Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Bernard Clappier, René Pleven, René Mayer, Pierre Uri, Étienne Hirsch, Robert Marjolin et Paul Reuter.

On 17 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the first draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 17 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the second draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

In late April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the third draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 26 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the fourth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 27 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the fifth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 28 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the sixth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 28 April 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the seventh draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 4 May 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the eighth draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 6 May 1950, Jean Monnet and his close colleagues draw up the ninth and final draft of what will become the Schuman Declaration.

On 9 May 1950, the declaration made in the salon de l’Horloge at the French Foreign Ministry by the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, marks the decisive starting point for European integration.

On 20 June 1950, in the Salon de l’Horloge at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, Robert Schuman (standing, centre), French Foreign Minister, opens the intergovernmental negotiations for the implementation of the Schuman Plan. This photo is generally used to illustrate the press conference of 9 May 1950, at which no photographs were taken.

Excerpt from the Declaration made by Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950 in Paris.

On 10 May 1950, the French daily newspaper Le Monde anticipates the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) by reporting it before Robert Schuman gives his official address.

In 1962, the Interim Staff Regulations Committee, consulted under Article 61 of the Staff Regulations of Officials, calls on the Community institutions to observe 9 May, the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, as a public holiday.

On 22 January 1972, in an interview for RTL radio in Paris, Jean Monnet refers to the origins of the Schuman Plan.

In an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on the 25th anniversary of the Declaration made on 9 May 1950, Pierre Uri, former colleague of Jean Monnet, recalls the preparations for the Schuman Plan.

In this interview, Paul Collowald, former journalist on the daily newspaper Le Nouvel Alsacien and former European correspondent in Alsace for the daily newspaper Le Monde, describes the preparations for and the political and economic implications of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950.

Lors du Conseil européen de Milan en juin 1985, le 9 mai devient la "journée de l'Europe" en souvenir de la déclaration de Robert Schuman du 9 mai 1950.

In 1996, the European Commission celebrates Europe Day with this poster which portrays the link between the Schuman Declaration and the progress made in the European integration process.

In 1997, on the 40th anniversary of the Rome Treaties, the European Commission celebrates Europe Day with this poster which calls for the deepening of the European integration process.

In 2000, on the 50th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the European Commission celebrates Europe Day with this poster portraying the stability and strength of the European integration process.

In 2006, the European Commission celebrates Europe Day with this poster on Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate. This Plan, proposed by the Commission following the negative outcomes in the French and Dutch referenda on the 2004 Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, aims to promote a debate on the relationship between the European Union’s democratic institutions and its citizens.