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, considers the origin of the European motto.

In this article, published on 4 March 2000 in the Rome daily newspaper La Repubblica, Corrado Augias, writer, journalist and former MEP, outlines the procedure for the competition Une devise pour l’Europe (A motto for Europe), in which 80 000 young people from the 15 Member States of the European Union are taking part.

In an article published on 5 May 2000, the daily newspaper Ouest-France, organiser of the competition Une devise pour l’Europe (A motto for Europe), describes the events of 4 May during which the winning motto — ‘Unity in diversity’ — was presented to the President of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine.

In an article published on 5 May 2000, the daily newspaper Ouest-France, organiser of the competition Une devise pour l’Europe (A motto for Europe), describes the ceremony held on 4 May in the European Parliament in which the non-official motto of the European Union, ‘Unity in diversity’, is adopted.

In an article published on 5 May 2000, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir, one of the sponsors of the competition ‘Une devise pour l’Europe’ (A Motto for Europe), comments on the choice made by the Grand Jury, which consisted of 15 eminent Europeans.

On 4 May 2000 in Brussels, at the end of the competition to find ‘A Slogan for Europe', which 80 000 young people entered, a Grand Jury, consisting of 15 eminent Europeans and chaired by Jacques Delors, selects the slogan ‘Unity in Diversity'. The winning entry is chosen from a shortlist of seven selected in April 2000 by a European media panel from among 2 000 entries. This — unofficial — slogan is presented symbolically to Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, in the presence of 500 schoolchildren seated in the Chamber.

At the initiative of the daily newspaper Ouest-France and the Caen Peace Memorial, 40 major European newspapers launch the ‘Motto for Europe' competition, inviting young people aged between 10 and 19 from the 15 Member States of the European Union to devise the motto. This table lists the members of the jury responsible for selecting the winning motto in spring 2000. The European Media Jury consists of at least one journalist per Member State; the European Grand Jury consists of one eminent figure per Member State.

In 2004, a poster published by the European Commission for Europe Day celebrates the fifth enlargement of the European Union to include 10 new Member States. The motto ‘United in diversity’, selected by the European Convention for inclusion in the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of 13 June and 10 July 2003, is printed on the poster in the 20 official languages of the enlarged Union. Here is a facsimile of the Polish version.

In 2005, a poster published by the European Commission for Europe Day celebrates the fifth enlargement of the European Union to include 10 new Member States. The motto ‘United in diversity’, officially selected in October 2004 for inclusion in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, is printed on the poster in all the official languages of the enlarged Union.

In an article published on 10 May 2005, the daily newspaper Ouest-France, organiser of the competition Une devise pour l’Europe (A motto for Europe), describes the ceremony which was held on 9 May, Europe Day, at the Caen Peace Memorial. A thousand young Europeans took part in order to proclaim the new motto of the European Union — ‘United in diversity’ — officially enshrined in the 2004 Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.