Celebrations will be taking place around the country today to mark Europe Day.
It has been 63 years since the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman laid out a vision of a European Union where open markets would help prevent future wars.
2013 marks 40 years of Irish EU membership but not everyone believes being a part of Europe is in Ireland's best interests.
Former MEP Patricia Mc Kenna will protest with the People's Movement outside the EU offices in Dublin today. She claims the rest of Europe contributed to our economic downfall.
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Meanwhile the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, along Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, have led a national handshake in Croke Park. It is part of the Irish EU Presidency celebrations of Europe Day.
They were participating in a group handshake with a team of young GAA players from community clubs around Ireland, whose families originated in other European countries. The hand shake was replicated in national schools around the country.
The handshake symbolises the day Robert Schuman extended the hand of friendship to Germany, to put war behind them and to forge a peaceful continent. That was May 9th 1950 which is celebrated as Europe Day. The Schuman Declaration proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, in the wake of the devastation caused by World War II. It proposed the pooling of the production of coal and steel in order to raise standards of living and, in the words of the Declaration, to make war between historic rivals France and Germany "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible".
This cake was specially commissioned for the day
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said "It is a day to remember that there is so much that binds us in the European Union and that our futures are inextricably linked. 2013 is a big year for Ireland. On this Europe Day we mark not just our role as Presidency of the EU, we celebrate, too, the 40th anniversary of our membership of the Union and the European year of Citizens 2013".
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore added that "EU membership has had a hugely positive influence on Irish society over the past 40 years, by helping us to build critical infrastructure, improve gender equality and enhance our education system. And, at this difficult time for Europe, as we all try to deal with the aftershocks of the economic crisis, the European Union and our place at the heart of it – will play a central role in our continued recovery".
There are several events happening in Dublin to mark this year’s Europe Day. More information on them can be found here
