Debate: th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration
Date: THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2020
Speaker: Maroš Šefčovič
Language: EN

All of you called for the big debate with our European citizens under the Conference on the Future of Europe to take place as soon as possible. Because at a time like this we all feel that we need to listen more to the people – I would say even more than before – to include them in our decision-making and then, of course, to draw lessons about how we can fulfil their proposals, wishes and dreams in the best possible way. I think we have to remind ourselves that, when Robert Schuman made his declaration for this bold and constructive action in 1950, his words did not fall on deaf ears. There was immediate follow-up. Less than one year later, the founding six countries would go on to sign the Treaty of Paris, establishing what would later become the European Union. This is how they materialised his call for peace in Europe and for legal protection against the different views of those who were more powerful at that moment, as Ms Beer has just reminded us. It was done in a big rush and what is often overlooked is the fact that, with the negotiations being done so quickly, the piece of paper that ministers signed was, in fact, left blank. I like this because it is both a symbol of Europe’s unwritten potential and that of integration being quite difficult and uncertain, but also the trust among those who were signing this blank sheet of paper that what they were doing together would be good for the future. They trusted each other because they wanted the best for our people and for our countries. Many of you referred to Robert Schuman’s famous statement that we would not build a common Europe, this important common project, all at once and in one go, but through consecutive victories on a long and hard path, and that this would be the moment when we would forge European solidarity. I think that, if the founding fathers were with us today, on one side they would be very much impressed at how we have filled that piece of paper with successes. But I am confident that they would also have a lot of inspiration about how to proceed further. I think that very soon they would realise, as Mr González Pons has pointed out, that it should be absolutely normal and natural to be a strong patriot and a strong European at the same time. We just want the best for our people, the best for our country and the best for our Europe. Sometimes I’m puzzled by how much proof we need to realise that, even in such a crisis as this, we do not have a single European country that can do a better job than if we do it all together as Europeans. Ms García Pérez, Mr Durand and Mr Benifei have underlined the importance of making the debate on the Conference on the Future of Europe as relevant as possible. I would like to thank you very much for the proposals which I heard that we should include the topics of recovery and the renewed need for solidarity, and that we should debate honestly about all subjects which matter to our citizens, even such pertinent questions as fair taxation and how we can improve our common fight against tax fraud and tax evasion, which was put Mr Durand and Ms Aubry. I agree with Ms García Pérez that the holidays look very different from what we are going through this spring. I think that we should thank all those who are working very hard, including you, honourable Members of the European Parliament, because, without your quick action, we wouldn’t have been able to adopt so many measures, which I believe saved many lives and will save millions of jobs. So now I think that the major lessons learned from the Schuman Declaration in our debate today are that we need to focus on immediate steps. We have to have an ambitious multiannual financial perspective. We have to have a recovery fund with strong firepower. We need to tackle the crisis, relaunch the economy and give a new boost to our European project through this intimate and in-depth debate with our citizens. I believe that this would be something that Robert Schuman would suggest to us and I think that this will be the best way to respect his legacy.