Today is Europe Day! On 9 May 1950, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented a plan for deeper cooperation in Europe. Developed in cooperation with Jean Monnet, the plan was based on two core principles – peace and solidarity. This would become the foundation for the European integration project. His speech on that day, known as the Schuman Declaration, is now widely regarded as the birthdate of the European Union. [1]
The European Union (EU) today consists of 27 Members States, with a population of more than 448 million inhabitants. The EU has a rich cultural and linguistic diversity. The languages spoken in EU countries are an essential part of its cultural heritage. This is why the EU supports multilingualism and has 24 official languages. Did you know that the European Atlas of the Seas, the European Commission’s ocean literacy tool, is available in the 24 official languages? Since 1987, student exchanges in the EU are organised through the Erasmus+ programme. In the first year, 3,200 students from 11 European countries participated. Since then, Erasmus+ has allowed 15 million people to live and study in 34 countries in the EU and beyond! [2]
European projects funded by the European Union are bringing people together from across Europe to work on a wide diversity of topics. On this special anniversary, the Map of the Week focuses on the European Union Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’. What is Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’, you ask?
The Horizon Europe Research and Innovation funding programme incorporates five research and innovation missions: ‘Adaptation to Climate change’ mission, ‘Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities’ mission, ‘Cancer’ mission, ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ mission and ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ mission. Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. The three objectives of the Mission are to:
Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030;
Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil;
Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.
To reach these objectives, the Mission has also put in place two enablers:
Digital Ocean and Water Knowledge System;
Public mobilisation and engagement.
‘Mission Actions’ included on the map present the joint efforts to achieve the objectives of Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’. Each of the lighthouses on the map represents an action pledged by a signatory of the Mission Charter. Click on them to read the details of each action!
Tomorrow, on 10 May 2025, in the framework of Europe Day, the European Institutions will open their doors to all citizens and will be organising a variety of online and on-site activities in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, with additional events taking place throughout the EU Member States and around the world.
Check out the related press release for more information;
Have a look at the programme and learn more about the work of the European Union and how it is related to our everyday life.
The data in the map are provided by the European Commission.
[1] https://commission.europa.eu/news/celebrating-75-years-europe-vision-reality-2025-05-08_en
[2] https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/facts-and-figures-european-union_en