I am truly honoured to celebrate Europe Day in the very house where Robert Schuman grew up. Schuman was a visionary. Just five years after a war that had torn our continent apart, he chose to write a story — not of revenge or rivalry. But of peace and reconciliation. Because through his lived experience, he understood something profound. That if free nations were to survive and thrive, they had to come together.
Schuman saw our unity as a way for Europe to stand strong in the Cold War world. Only together, could Europeans remain the masters of their own destinies. Over 75 years, this is more true than ever. As we speak, tanks and missiles are parading on the Red Square. The contrast with this celebration could not be starker. Russia glorifies war. We remember the horrors of war and invest in resilience and democracy, so it never comes back. And we celebrate the visionary leaders like Schuman, who built peace between old enemies. Our Union was born as a peace project. And that is what it continues to be, now more than ever.
One thing is certain: No anthem played over Red Square today can cover the sound of justice that is looming. Because today, on Europe Day, justice for Ukraine begins to take shape. A special tribunal for the Crime of Aggression is being launched in Lviv. It is not just a legal step, it is a powerful message to the world: Russia shall be held accountable for the crime of aggression, because justice is the foundation of a lasting peace.
Today, from this house, I want us to turn our eyes, hearts and minds to Ukraine. Because that is where Europe's future is being written. It is written in the trenches, where the brave Ukrainian armed forces fight for their survival and for our values. It is written in the Rada, where lawmakers are driving forward reforms to bring Ukraine inside the Union. And we will walk with them, every step of the way. To the place where they rightfully belong: inside our European family.
And this is Schuman's greatest legacy: a stable, reliable and attractive Union. Today, twelve countries, home to more than 150 million people, are waiting to join the European Union voluntarily. Why do they come to us? Not just for prosperity – but for peace. Not just for trade — but for trust. For shared values. Because Europe is more than a market. Europe is a promise. Europe is a place where people can live fully, love freely, and lead healthy, dignified lives. Europe is more than a Union. It is our common home.
