Devon County Council marks Europe Day 2013

Devon County Council will be raising the European flag at County Hall to mark international Europe Day. The ceremony will take place at 12.30pm on Thursday 9 May.

Exactly 63 years ago the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, took the first steps in a speech that held out a hand of friendship to Germany, towards the creation of the European Economic Community, which developed to become the European Union.

Mr Schuman spoke of their two countries cooperating with each other to pool their economic resources, and to no longer be enemies.

What began with his speech 63 years ago, has formed the union today of 27 Member States.

Pupils from St Nicholas Catholic Primary School, Exeter will join the ceremony, alongside members of Devon's European Movement Committee.

Robert Schuman was the French foreign minister between 1948 and 1952 and is regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity. He recognised that only a lasting reconciliation with Germany could form the basis for a united Europe.

In cooperation with fellow diplomat, Jean Monnet he drew up the internationally renowned Schuman Plan, which was published on 9 May 1950, the date now regarded as the birth of the European Union.

He proposed joint control of coal and steel production, the most important materials for the armaments industry. The basic idea was that whoever did not have control over coal and steel production would not be able to fight a war.

Schuman informed the German chancellor the plan, who immediately recognised the opportunity for a peaceful Europe and agreed. Shortly afterwards, the governments of Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands also reacted.

The six states signed the agreement for the European Coal and Steel Community in Paris in April 1951.