Monument to the Founding Fathers of the European Union
Year of unveiling
2006
Person/persons/event to whom the monument is dedicated
As the name indicates, the monument is dedicated to the founding fathers of the European Union.
Localization
Romania, Bucharest, Parcul Mihai I (Herestrău)
Location in relation to the surroundings
The monument is located on the Roses Island in the Park Michael I (Herestrău).
Text of the inscription
Each bust is inscribed with the name of the person it pictures along with a short biography:
Jean Monnet (1888-1979); French diplomat and businessman, who, along with Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, devised the plan to set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), and acted as the first President of the High Authority of the ECSC.
Robert Schuman (1886-1963); French politician; Prime Minister (1947-1948) and Foreign Minister (1948-1952). On 9 May 1950, he delivered a speech (the Schuman Declaration) proposing the establishment of the ECSC, a day that was later declared Europe Day.
Altiero Spinelli (1907-1986); Italian politician; leader of the European Federalist Movement. He played an important role in the creation of the European Defence Community and was a promoter of the Draft Treaty establishing the European Union.
Alcide De Gasperi (1881-1954); Italian politician; Prime Minister (1945-1953). He promoted the idea of European unification through the ECSC and NATO.
Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967); German politician; Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949-1963). He was one of the initiators of the ECSC, along with Schuman and Monnet, as well as one of the signatories of the Elysee Treaty.
Walter Hallstein (1901-1982); German politician; Secretary of State in the German Foreign Ministry. He was the architect behind what later became known as the Hallstein doctrine and the first president of the Commission of the European Economic Community. During his presidency, the Common Agricultural Policy was introduced as a pillar of Community policy.
Paul-Henri Spaak (1899-1972); Belgian politician; Foreign Minister for 11 times. He chaired the Messina Conference (1955), where the committee that drew up the Spaak report was founded, which led to the signing of the Treaties of Rome, thus establishing the European Economic Community.
Jean Rey (1902-1983); Belgian politician; Minister of Reconstruction in the Belgian Government. He was a member of the European Commission (1958-1967) and succeeded Hallstein as President of the Commission (1967-1970).
Johann Willem Beyen (1897-1976); Dutch politician; he advanced the Beyen Plan. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he played a decisive role in the creation of the European Economic Community.
Sicco Leendert Mansholt (1908-1995); Dutch polititian; he devised a plan to restructure the agricultural policy of the European Economic Community, which became known as the Mansholt Plan. He was Vice-President (1958-1972) and then President of the European Commission (1972-1973).
Joseph Bech (1887-1975); Luxembourg politician; minister under several governments as well as Prime Minister (1953-1958). He played a decisive role in the Messina Conference (1955), where the committee that drew up the Spaak report was founded, which led to the signing of the Treaties of Rome (1957), thus establishing the European Economic Community.
Pierre Werner (1913-2002); Luxembourg politician; Prime Minister and minister under several governments. He played a key role in creating the economic and monetary union, being considered the “father” of the Euro as a single currency.
General description
In the centre, the monumental ensemble consists of a round monument made of marble and blue granite, which has a mast in the middle, on which the flag of the European Union is flown. The yellow stars found on the flag of the European Union are depicted in bronze on the blue granite. At the edge of the round monument there are 12 bronze busts representing the founding fathers of the European Union. Each bust is 1.3 meters high.
Condition
Good
The circumstances of unveiling
On Romania's way towards the European Union, Romanian authorities wanted to pay their respects to those who founded it. The project was initiated by the Municipality of Bucharest in early 2006, and the monument was made by sculptor Ionel Stoicescu. The monument was unveiled on 9 May 2006, on Europe Day.
Later history
Unveiled in 2006
Contemporary importance
Except for the unveiling ceremony, ceremonies are not usually held here. At present, the monumental ensemble is admired especially by the thousands of people visiting the park.
Publications, sources, links
Localization
Gallery
București, Municipiul București.
Rumunia ,
