The diary of two Young Ambassadors: Europe Day in Brussels

Hey all!

Welcome to this diary entry, written by two YEAs, Flavio from Italy and Nicolae from Moldova!

Why we celebrate Europe Day

On 9 May, we celebrate Europe Day to promote peace and unity throughout the whole European continent. This date was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which was presented on the same day in 1950 by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman. It proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a supranational organisation, composed of France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The main objective was to pool the production of coal and steel, essential resources for rearmament and warfare, to make war in Europe “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible”. The Declaration signified an important first step towards European unification and is seen as the foundation of today’s European Union. This year was especially important since it marked the 75 years since the Schuman Declaration. 

Every year, for Europe Day the European Institutions open their doors to the public and invite citizens to their premises where they show how they operate and host a variety of on-site activities, events, and themed spaces. For this year’s occasion, the Young European Ambassadors from both the Eastern partner countries and the Western Balkans  were invited to the European Commission to represent their initiative at the DG ENEST stand. Furthermore, YEAs from Ukraine, Georgia, Italy and Moldova took part in a panel discussion at the European External Action Service (EEAS), where they talked about the initiative, shared their personal experiences and activities in the network, and answered questions from visitors. 

What did we do in Brussels?

After arriving in Brussels for our Europe Day activities on the 8th, we met for an informal coffee talk. There, we got to know each other and shared valuable insights regarding our experience as YEAs in our countries of origin. It was an amazing team building activity!

On 9 May, we all gathered in Parc du Cinquantenaire in front of Robert Schuman’s monument. There, we could meet the YEAs from the Western Balkans countries and take pictures with our countries’ flags and the EU flag. In this way, we expressed our countries’ commitment towards joining the European community. 

The next day, 10 May, was the most productive and successful. We spent the day at the European Commission (Berlaymont), where we held the Living Library activity. The YEAs from the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans, had to make a creative book cover that would highlight a story related to our country and the EU enlargement. Many visitors approached us and they were excited to find out more about our European path. Not to forget that Ukraine and Moldova had their own stands with many souvenirs, photos and information about them. Additionally, the YEAs from the Eastern Partnership and Italy (Nicolae, Tatia, Vladlen and Alessandra) participated in a panel discussion at EEAS and shared bright ideas regarding active citizenship, involvement in democratic processes and making a positive change in our local communities. 

The next day, 11 May, can be called the “Day of Museums”. The YEAs visited the House of European History, where they saw the evolution of our continent since ancient times until the 21st century. Moreover, there is a special floor about the creation of the European community after World War II and its evolution till the last enlargement from 2013. The second museum was the Parlamentarium, where we had the occasion to explore the historic events related to global crises and most pressing issues of our societies. 

Last and not least, on the 12th we visited the DG ENEST headquarters and had an informal discussion with high-level officials. The aim was to get more informed about the accession stage that our countries are currently at, and how realistic it is to join the EU by 2030. This visit helped the YEAs understand how much the EU supports the enlargement policy, economic growth and democracy. 

Our impressions

For me, Flavio, this Europe Day was an unforgettable experience. It was a real honour to represent the Young European Ambassadors initiative at the DG ENEST stand of the European Commission. 

I had the pleasure to introduce visitors to our network and explain to them what it stands for, how we operate, and what we have achieved together.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was supporting my fellow YEAs in sharing information about their countries, which not many people know much about. So, it was incredibly rewarding to help raise awareness and spark curiosity among the visitors.

Overall, the day was full of amazing conversations, new friendships, and valuable learning moments which have provided me with new skills and unforgettable memories.
For me, Nicolae, it was my first international event with the YEAs. I was extremely honoured to speak in the name of the Moldovan chapter and represent our initiative during Europe Days in Brussels. It was one more step for me on the ladder of diplomacy that I am climbing. I liked that I could use my language skills and speak in all eight languages that I know. I think that all will remember this feature of me. My impressions are positive and I am happy that I could celebrate Europe Days in the heart of Europe along with smart people with different backgrounds and from all over Europe. I understood that we are indeed stronger together and that this is how bridges are built between nations.