On the fiftieth anniversary of his death, I pay tribute to the memory of Robert Schuman, who was one of the Founding Fathers of the European Union, and served as a Prime Minister and a Foreign Minister of France.

The ideas of European reconciliation and unity as well as the diversity of Europe were all present in the destiny of Robert Schuman, since he – born as a German citizen in Luxembourg – became a facilitator of European unity as a French statesman. The legacy and commitment of the deeply religious Schuman also reminds us of the Christian roots of European integration. 2013 is the European Year of Citizens, and the memory of the Founding Fathers obliges us to work for a European Union that provides answers to the real problems of its citizens and respects the spirit of our forefathers as well as the diversity of European nations.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)