Europe Day: Let's stand up for what matters. Let's stand up for Europe.

Today, Europe celebrates its anniversary.

We, celebrate peace, stability, and unity brought by the European Union. We reflect on how our Union has grown and evolved, and the remarkable progress we have made together over the years.

Even though our Union has been put to a great test in recent times, we did not falter. We have continued to build a stronger, more resilient, and democratic Europe, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and fulfil their potential.

More importantly, we have continued to build a Union of our common and shared values: the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy. Values that too often are taken for granted. The reality is that while Europe still remains the most democratic place on Earth, and a beacon of hope for many, the rest of the world is in a democratic decline.

In less than a month, Europeans will cast their ballot in the greatest democratic exercise of our continent, European Parliament elections. With the rise of far-right movements, brutal attacks on politicians, the spread of fake news and disinformation this will be yet another difficult test for Europe and our democracy.

As the President of the EESC, which is a gateway to the EU's civil society, I am confident that Europe is prepared for this challenge and can come out stronger. Europeans, young and old, have never been so vocal about the Europe they want. They are also very clear that they want to be part of the decision-making process. This is why the EESC has opened its doors to give more voice to the youth, candidate countries, and civil society at large.

Europe is not just a peace project, but an idea of a better future. It is a future worth fighting for.

Today, let's stand up for what matters. Let's stand up for Europe.