Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen called on people in a televised speech on Thursday to participate in the EU elections on June 9. He called Europe Day the “birth of the European Union”. On this day 74 years ago, European states decided to work together for “a life of peace, freedom and prosperity” rather than wage war against each other. “We decide which ideas from Europe we like,” says Van der Bellen.
“Autocracies around the world – see Russia – are deliberately trying to weaken our liberal democracy in Europe. They strive for more power, more land, more influence. A weak Europe would be vulnerable. And it would be powerless against this influence,” Van der Bellen continued.
However, a strong, independent Europe can defend itself against these types of influences, for example through a strengthened democracy, an intact media landscape and a functioning legal system. “And to be honest, we must also prepare to defend our Europe against military attacks,” said Van der Bellen.
“Rich in cultures, customs, languages”
Major problems, such as the climate crisis, also need to be tackled on a large scale. “Common and united, like the European Union.” Now it is necessary to decide “whether this Union will be fragmented into separate small parts” or whether it will be further developed “for all of us.” Of course, these small parts are all beautiful, said the Federal President. “Rich in cultures, customs, languages. And we all love our beautiful Austria. But: to protect the little ones, our country – the big one – the united Europe – must be strong.”
The freedoms of Europe, the ease of travel, working in networks, the efficiency in crisis management or simply the freedom to live, love and believe “do not just fall out of the sky. We have to do something about it,” said the Federal President. So it doesn’t matter whether you go to the EU elections on June 9 or not. “Participate in the EU elections. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.”
Europe Day is celebrated every year on May 9 for peace and unity in Europe. On May 9, 1950, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe. A year later, the two former war enemies Germany and France, together with the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy, founded the “European Coal and Steel Community” (ECSC), bringing the two commodities important to the war effort under joint control.
In the following decades, cooperation expanded to other areas of life and culminated in the creation of the European Union in 1992, which has a common internal market and a common currency and now includes 27 member states.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
