As some 500 people gathered in The Hague to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the original Congress, from whose small beginnings grew the European Union as we know it today, it was timely to remember the difficulties and dangers posed to those delegates in 1948, and to reflect on how the Union sees its future.
The European Movement’s President, Pat Cox, opened the proceedings and spoke of the need for continuity, to build on the legal, democratic and institutional basis already achieved, and to face the challenges ahead. The presence of Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands provided continuity, since Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard had attended the original Congress, and the first session was an open debate on the future challenges, with participants ranging from Jean-Pierre Gouzy, an attendee in 1948, and four recent Young Europeans of the Year.

Workshops in the afternoon concentrated on three areas : Political, Economic & Social, and Education & Cultural Europe. The 60 ideas furnished by citizens were concentrated into topics, and debated. In the Political arena, climate change dropped down the agenda, but the common defence policy was considered essential – soft power needed 'hard' power back-up, because "the ice of civilisation is very thin" as evidenced by the Balkan problems in the 1990's. Members felt that the gap between the institutions and the citizens was still a problem to be addressed. Economic & Social debate covered jobs and unemployment concerns and the need for sensible migration policies. Very high on their agenda was the importance of women's equality for the economic health of the EU.
Under Education, topics such as the success of Erasmus, which could still be greatly expanded, the need to develop feelings of Europeanism early on in schools, and the need to capitalise on the historical success of the EU were top of the agenda for the future.

The second day of the celebrations saw impressive panels of participants in open debate, which were broadcast live. The first session drew on the expertise of the Presidents of the Institutions, including Hans-Gert Pottering, Janez Jansa, and Jose Manuel Barroso. The latter gave an optimistic and up-beat view of the future, and Dimitri Dimitriades, President of Ecosoc, encouraged Europe to 'get working and stop talking'. As he said: "to gather together = a start, to talk together = progress, but to work together = success."
Also during this debate, Pat Cox urged that next year’s elections to the European Parliament should not descend into a beauty contest, but that pan-European issues should be put at the heart of the Elections.

The final session called on the skills of the political leaders in the Parliament in answering questions from the European Civil Society Forum and from the public in a general debate on the topics that featured in the workshops.

From the above, you might be forgiven for thinking that there was only work and not much festivity. However, the Anniversary Lunch in the Ridderzaal was a genuine celebration and a chance to talk to fellow members.
In addition, an amazing DVD, culled from Dutch archive footage of the original Congress, showed the crowded meetings in that very room that had greeted Winston Churchill and the other delegates, and the inspired thinking that started the European dream. Footage of outside meetings in the centre of Amsterdam showed a connection with the citizens who gathered, sang and cheered the leaders as the idea of European unity was proposed.

So in the spirit of the first Congress of Europe, this Congress also hoped for, in the words of Hans-Gert Pottering, "a better future for all the the EU's 500 million citizens, and for them to play their part in creating a better world for all".

Veronica Stiastny