Europe Day, held on 9 May every year, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical ‘Schuman declaration’. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable.

Each year thousands of people take part in visits, debates, concerts and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU.

Following the 2017 European Youth Sport Forum that gathered 120 young leaders (aged 18-35) from the youth and sport sector across Europe in Malta on 10-13 March, during the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, who is responsible for sport at EU level, recently received proposals from young people in the field of sport.

This “Pink paper” was drafted during the Forum and concentrates on 4 subjects: Healthy Life style, Sport diplomacy, Social inclusion and volunteering.

It will now be analysed by the European Commission’s services, but Commissioner Navracsics has already invited representatives of youth sport to some key events and seminars in these areas, such as the round table on healthy lifestyles in Tartu on 23 September (opening of the 2017 European Week of Sport) or the next seminar on sport diplomacy to be organised at the end of the year.