9 May is Europe Day, and this year it marks the 70^th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. On this day, it is our collective responsibility to revitalize the European dream and re-invigorate European integration. But this 9th of May is a hard one for us all, as Europe and its citizens are mourning.

Citizens have mixed feelings about the handling of COVID-19 by public authorities, especially the EU institutions, and this unfortunate situation has undermined the trust of citizens in our Union, especially as many people are still struggling with the pandemic.

COVID-19 has proven to us however that to protect the lives and health of citizens and preserve our economy, the European Union must take robust actions, proportionate to the dangers threatening us.

As mayors and regional ministers we are at the forefront of tackling this crisis, crucially assisting in containing the spread of the virus, in particular by maintaining public order and implementing an array of very practical measures of social distancing, reinforcing local capacities, preparedness and robustness of the health service infrastructure, as well as adopting the first measures aimed at alleviating the impact on the local and regional economy, while also guaranteeing the provision of all indispensable public services.

Under the leadership of our President François Decoster, Mayor of Saint-Omer and Regional Councilor for the Hauts-de-France region, and Mayor of Bratislava Matúš Vallo,  Renew Europe Mayors and Regional Ministers therefore discussed during a video-conference of our Liberal Mayors network what kind of Europe they believe is necessary 70 years after the Schuman Declaration and post-COVID19.

This lead to more than 60 mayors & regional leaders calling for a Sovereign, Decentralised, Federal Europe, with 9 concrete calls for this special 9 May. We invite all Europeans on this 70th anniversary to join us in urging our national and European leaders to build this Union we call for. It is time for a Europe of partnership, a sovereign, decentralised, federal Europe. It is time for a Europe that works for its citizens!