Europe Day 2020 - #StrongerTogether

 © Council of Europe & Luís Vieira

Europe Day 2020 comes at a time when our economy and our society face the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During these times of crisis, countries, regions and cities across the European Union are stretching out a helping hand to fellow EU citizens and assistance is being given to those most in need: donations of protective equipment such as masks, medical teams, cross-border treatments of ill patients and bringing stranded EU citizens home. This is European solidarity at its best.

Upon request, the European Commission coordinates assistance to respond to the coronavirus, such as to coordinate the delivery of personal protective material, repatriation flights from outside Europe, and co-finances the delivery of assistance and the transport of medical teams from one country to another.

With its Emergency Response Coordination Centre, the Commission stands ready 24/7 to assist all countries, in Europe and beyond, who ask for specific support.

As Member State governments and the Commission discuss the respective continuation and easing of extraordinary measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, it necessary to consider our vision for Europe after the current measures are eased.

A digital Europe is part this vision. Now is the time embrace the role of digitalisation in transforming our society for the better and building a green economy.

Pan-European digital infrastructure has helped authorities mitigate the effects of the pandemic and harness the value of data as a strategic assert, such as how CEF Context Broker helps turn data into action plans to fight COVID-19 in Italy or CEF Big Data Test Infrastructure allowing the use of scientific clinical evidence against COVID-19 in Valencia.

Beyond the pandemic, Europe is leading the global struggle against climate change. Here too, the use of the CEF Building Blocks means better, faster and more innovative digitalisation, saving our environment, from automated eInvoicing in Finland to less pollution in Barcelona.

We are #ConnectingEurope so that we are #StrongerTogether.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, a cornerstone of the values and purpose of the European Union.

One of the key messages of the Declaration is that "Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity".

To show your solidarity with Europe, the Commission has created the Stronger Together sticker which you can update on your profile picture on Facebook, use on Instagram, alongside the hashtag #EuropeDay.

#UnitedAgainstCoronavirus