On May 9, 1950, Robert Schuman laid the foundations of the European Union with a historic speech on political cooperation in Europe. After seven decades of peace and prosperity, the United Europe has largely justified his vision, having evolved into a multinational Union of 500 million citizens, with a strong single currency, common values and policies, achieving an ever increasing convergence at its core.
The European Union has been criticized and questioned many times for not being fast, bold, effective. Nevertheless, not only did it endure and not disintegrate, as many predicted, but in the 71 years we are celebrating this year, it has slowly and steadily strengthened economically and politically. And it turned out, above all, to be a vibrant, dynamic, ever-evolving organism.
For the past two years, despite the initial weaknesses, it has effectively dealt with the massive crisis of the pandemic, reconciling its members' disagreements and renewing its toolbox with unconventional policies. The Recovery Fund, the easing of budget constraints, the joint negotiation with pharmaceutical companies were just a few innovative tools and steps towards its deeper integration.
In the same spirit, the European Union breathed new life into its Social Policy, through the Porto Social Summit, where we participated in the last days with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. There, Europe showed its determination to strengthen its Social Model and signalled the immediate recovery after the pandemic. The Porto Declaration focuses on European efforts for a fair, sustainable and resilient, inclusive recovery. It gives priority to creating more and better jobs, but also to the acquisition and enrichment of work skills. It supports the green and digital transition, promotes the fight against poverty and discrimination, and includes the empowerment of vulnerable groups at its core objectives. In essence, it is delivering on Europe's promises of prosperity, progress and convergence to its citizens.
The Declaration is, in fact, a major success for Greece. The relevant Greek proposals that I had the pleasure to submit to the Portuguese Presidency were largely incorporated in the final body of the Declaration, while our country received wider approval for its constructive attitude. An attitude which is firmly oriented towards social peace, still being dictated to us by the vision of Konstantinos Karamanlis. As he used to say, the United Europe could become a "great community, combining freedom with order and order with social justice. "Because without order there can be no freedom, just as there can be no order without social justice."
In any case, the debate on Social Europe does not end here. It will continue in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which starts in a few days with the aim of agreeing on which Europe we want. With what priorities, what policies, what footprint on the world stage.
In Greece, we deeply believe in this pan-European Dialogue that calls for the voice and participation of European citizens. We actively participate with proposals and ideas, starting from the 6 + 1 axes of the Greek proposal: the European Defence and Security Framework, European cohesion policies, environment and climate change, migration, research and innovation with emphasis on youth role, the deepening strategy of EMU and the triptych "Rule of Law-Democracy-Human Rights".
Finally, through the Conference, we, Greeks will be able not only to confirm our firm European orientation, but also to co-shape the future of our continent, fighting together for a new Europe, open, ambitious, strong.
Because, four decades after our accession, we now see our home in Europe. And we want our home to be not only secure and solid, but also to be constantly evolving and growing. In line with this goal, we will continue for the next decade, so that our European home excels in its global neighborhood.
Happy birthday, Europe!
May 9, 2021