21 May is Europe Day in Ukraine

Europe Day is a day to celebrate unity and peace in Europe. There are two separate Europe Days in general: one to remember the Council of Europe’s establishment, which took place on May 5, 1949; and one to commemorate the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950, which proposed a new organization of states in Europe, a predecessor of the European Union (EU).

In Ukraine, Europe Day is celebrated during the third weekend every May. The Ukrainian president established this day by decree On Europe Day dated 19 April 2003, taking into account Ukraine’s strategic course for European integration. The citizens of Ukraine celebrate it as the day of common values and history of all nations of the continent.

This year, European Day is special in Ukraine — we are meeting it under conditions of war. The Ukrainian people heroically defend from the russian invasion democracy, freedom, culture, human lives and dreams of progressive Europe.