The 8th of May marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, also known as Victory in Europe day (VE Day) by allied forces. VE Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8 May 1945; it marked the official surrender of all German military operations. Eighty years later, President of the European Council António Costa commemorated this monumental date in the European Parliament, reminding us of the fragility of peace and the fundamental role that European integration has played in preserving it.
Today we find ourselves haunted by autocrats preaching disinformation and warmongering all in the pursuit of power. On the 9th of May (VE Day in Russia), Vladimir Putin is using this day to propagate disinformation and continuing his war of aggression against Ukraine.
The 9th of May also represents Europe day. On this day High Representative Kaja Kallas and many of the foreign ministers are due to travel to Ukraine to show their support on while Vladimir Putin holds his military parade on Red Square to commemorate the end of the Second World War.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
‘‘We must never forget those who died during in the Second World War, a war that was won fighting against fascist ideology, and left Europe in ruin.
In the words of my good friend António Costa during his commemoration speech ‘out of the ashes of war, a bold vision was born. A vision not just to reconstruct Europe, but to fundamentally transform it. That vision became the European Union, one of the most successful peace projects in human history.’
It is our responsibility to the generations who came before us that gave us peace in Europe, to preserve and maintain that peace for the generations that will follow us.’’
