9 May 2025 marked the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman (1886-1963) to pool the production of coal and steel – vital raw materials for Europe’s industry and economy – with Germany. This was done through the Economic Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), and though they did not know it at the time, the creation of this market planted the seeds that would eventually grow into the European Union (EU).
Given the current climate of economic turmoil, this may seem an inopportune moment to remember such an anniversary. However, our current geopolitical scenario makes it all the more important to remember the enormous significance of the integration process sparked by the Schuman Declaration, both for Europeans and for the world at large.
