1. The 9^th of May is Europe Day. Today marks the 74^th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, a pivotal moment in European history that laid the foundations for peace, unity, and prosperity on a continent ravaged by war. On this day, 74 years ago, the Schuman Declaration proposed the pooling of the production of coal and steel - two of the main raw materials for war - but the purpose was peace. Robert Schuman predicted that ‘Europe would not be made all at once, nor according to a single plan.’ That ‘it would be built through concrete achievements that first create a de facto solidarity.’ Robert Schuman's vision was the beginning of what is now the European Union.
2. Since then, the EU has made significant strides in promoting peace, democracy, human rights and prosperity across our continent. We take pride in our achievements, including the longest period of peace in European history, and the establishment of the Single Market, the 30th anniversary of which we celebrated last year. We are proud of willingly dismantling most of our physical borders, enabling free movement among most of our countries, and the adoption of our common currency, the Euro, in most Member States.
3. We are also proud that generations of citizens across Europe have placed their trust and aspirations in EU membership. From the six original Member States, we have expanded to 27, with many countries currently negotiating their accession or being candidates for membership in our European family. We recognise that European integration is a work in progress and requires constant effort, reform, and advancement to maintain a relevant voice in the world. Ultimately, EU enlargement serves as a transformative win-win policy for both sides, enhances security, justice, and democracy within and among our States, while elevating the living standards of millions of Europeans. Through cooperation on foreign policy, security and defence, both future Member States and the EU can better confront the complex geopolitical challenges facing us today. Prospective Member States are expected to strengthen their democratic institutions and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. On its part, the EU is actively engaged in reform efforts, laying the groundwork today for the Union of tomorrow. Our aim extends beyond mere enlargement; we aspire to build a stronger Union capable of upholding and projecting our shared values globally for peace and stability in the world, constructing a larger, deeper, and more resilient European Union. We cannot take anything for granted, particularly our hard-won peace.
4. Unfortunately, peace in Europe was shattered on 24 February 2022, when Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s ongoing brutal war of aggression against its sovereign neighbour, reminiscent of some of the worst episodes of World War II in Europe, is an existential issue. It constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and fundamental principles of international relations, such as the Helsinki Final Act, which govern peaceful co-existence among States. Nothing can justify this aggression. Targeting and killing thousands of civilians, attempting to redraw borders by force and to subjugate the will of a free people, not to mention the material and ecological destruction, is not and can never be acceptable. Might does not make right and unjust wars are doomed to be lost. Our strength, as a democratic community of values, lies in our commitment to international law, our unity, and our solidarity with the Ukrainian people—the victims of Russia’s unjustifiable aggression that started in 2014. This is why the EU will continue to support Ukraine in its rightful self-defence for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. This is why we have welcomed millions of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war, and why we demand the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. This solidarity is particularly crucial now because when some of us are targeted, it affects all of us. We stand united with Ukraine and against Russian aggression. The future of Europe is being written in Ukraine.
5. The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. These same values are at the heart of the OSCE comprehensive security concept. Representing nearly half of its participating States, and contributing about 60% of its financial and human resources, the EU and its Member States are staunch supporters of the OSCE. My speaking today on behalf of the EU, along with all its Member States and aligning OSCE pS, is a testament to the unity we share. In our rapidly changing world, the foundational values of the EU are more relevant than ever for our citizens, our partners, and all those who want to work cooperatively to strengthen rules-based multilateralism, peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and democracy.
6. The upcoming European Parliament elections in June will provide citizens with the opportunity to democratically elect their European leadership, address Europe’s challenges, and guide its priorities. EU citizens from all walks of life and corners of the Union will be able to participate, with young Europeans playing their role in shaping the future of the European project.
7. Throughout the significant changes in our history since 1950, the constant determination is that our project will continue to be a force for good in the world. The EU will continue to work tirelessly in the OSCE and other multilateral fora to uphold and safeguard its founding values, and to share the security benefits that derive from peace, democracy, and human rights on the European continent and beyond, to the benefit of all our citizens.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA as well as ANDORRA, MONACO and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.