On 9 May, as we celebrate Europe Day, we are not merely commemorating a historical speech by Robert Schuman, who, in his 1950 declaration, proposed pooling French and German coal and steel, industries that had armed both world wars, under a common High Authority. War between the two old enemies, he said, would become "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible". It is a project rooted in a profound realisation. Lasting peace is built on the sturdy foundation of economic interdependence.
For the Adriatic region and nations like Slovenia, the European Union is not a distant administrative apparatus. It is the oxygen of our economic life. It represents the collapse of barriers and the expansion of horizons. When we speak of Europe, we are speaking of the four freedoms - the seamless movement of people, goods, services, and capital - that define a life without borders. It is the privilege of a Slovenian entrepreneur to compete on equal footing from the Adriatic sea to the Atlantic ocean.
In an era of geopolitical friction, some look towards the Chinese model with a mix of awe and anxiety. Yet, the European model offers something far more sustainable. It offers growth anchored in liberty. Our economic development is inseparable from our liberal values. We reject the notion that global trade is a zero-sum game of dominance. Instead, guided by the principle of comparative advantage, we view the world as a network of cooperation where mutual prosperity is the ultimate goal.
The European idea is a living organism. It requires cultivation, belief, and expansion. As we look ahead, the integration of new members - driven by swift economic alignment - is not just a political necessity but a moral one. On this Europe Day, let us celebrate a model that serves the individual, protects the community, and proves that shared prosperity is the most effective guardian of peace.