Project 2018-2020 Dissemination Europe Day Opinion

Agrupamento de Escolas de Muralhas do Minho, Valença

ERASMUS+ | EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport

© Eda Kaban

Europe Day, 9th May

May 2020 · Marianna Seyr, n.º 19, 10.º B

It was 1950 when it all happened: the union between countries that changed not only the history of a continent, but also moved the entire world through its strength and companionship. The author of all this: Robert Schuman, Prime Minister of France, also known as “Father of Europe” – his speech was so successful that led a union’s proposal from some Europe countries, which are now part of the European Union. But no one thought this proposal would move so well these countries.

Nowadays, unfortunately we are passing our life in a different way (comparing with what we are accustomed). This due to the pandemic that has been accompanying us for a few months. Sadly, we lost many lives, but we have to remain strong and united if we want to get out of this. We must be our own union, even in quarantine, if we only stay in, we are already contributing to our future. The future of the whole planet. So let’s celebrate the Europe Day in our houses!

I am not a Portuguese girl, I am Austrian, but I am here just because of the Europe Union. In my opinion, this union isn’t only based on policy and economy (of course, this is really helpful), but it is also brings the union far beyond. Europe is like a family for me: countries help each other, sometimes there are obstacles but the agreement always reigns in the end and I hope this will be eternal. Not only now, but also in the future. In fact, I hope that the whole planet can, one day, hold hands and say “we have cultural differences, we make mistakes sometimes, but we remain united, we are all human and we must respect each other, always”.


[Inês Mendes, n.º 16, 10.º B]


Peace, love and diversity

May 2020 · Beatriz Lopes, n.º 8, 10.º B

Europe celebrates its day on 9th May and this celebration is, for me, one of the most important celebrations around the world. On 9th May we celebrate the day of peace and liberty in Europe. We celebrate the fact that a lot of European countries put their differences aside and decided to be united as only one nation.

The day of Europe is celebrated on 9th May to honour Robert Schumann, a French musician who in 1950 gave an especially important speech about union.

Sadly, the world is living a pandemic and Europe is one of the most affected places. Italy, Spain, and the UK are part of the most affected European countries while Portugal did a great job while preventing this unfortunate pandemic. We can’t celebrate the day of Europe all together for obvious reasons but I think that all of us, Portuguese people or European people in general, should stop for a moment and take a few minutes to think about how beautiful peace, love and diversity are.

I think that the European Union is one of the best unions of all times to fight against hate and war and let us hope that it won’t ever be broken.

“Europe must remain as model for the world and a model for the coexistence of peoples and cultures.” – Nadia Murad