Europe Day celebrations in Shanghai

Each year on 9 May, the EU celebrates Europe Day to commemorate the Schuman declaration, pronounced on 9 May 1950 by Luxembourg-born French statesman Robert Schuman. Considered the founding act of the EU, the Schuman declaration introduced the idea of pooling and jointly managing two key economic resources –coal and steel – to make military conflict between rivaling European countries "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible". Schuman thus laid the groundwork for European economic and political integration – a project which Luxembourg has been committed to for now 76 years.
 

Today, 6 May 2026, the Consulates General of the European Union (EU) member states in Shanghai and 400 invited guests jointly celebrated Europe Day with a festive garden reception
at the Consulate General of Belgium in Shanghai.

This year’s Europe Day celebrations in Shanghai, held in the presence of the Ambassador of Cyprus to China, Ms Koula Sophianou — with Cyprus currently assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union — were special for many reasons. In 2026, we not only commemorate 40 years since Portugal and Spain joined the EU, but also the 40th anniversary of the first official Europe Day celebrations and the public adoption of the EU flag and anthem.

Did you know that Luxembourg is currently the only EU member state to have declared Europe Day on 9th May a public holiday? Happy Europe Day!