On May 9, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted a video on social media to celebrate Europe Day, emphasizing, "Today is our day."
Von der Leyen stressed: "Today we reflect on what unites us—our steadfast love for values, democracy, freedom, and equality."
She said: "Today we also consider Europe’s place in our lives, recognizing that we enjoy the world’s highest quality of life. Today we celebrate an Europe that cares for us, serves us, and is built collectively by each one of us."
May 9 has long been a sensitive date in European history, carrying multiple layers of meaning.
Traditionally, it marks Russia’s “Victory Day,” commemorating the end of World War II. However, starting in 2023, von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy designated this day as “Europe Day,” aiming to counter Russia’s commemoration with a narrative centered on European unity, freedom, and democracy. Her repeated assertion this year that "Today is our day" reflects an ongoing effort to solidify this new narrative—transforming May 9 into the EU’s official “political birthday”—and thereby diminishing Russia’s influence over historical memory.
Her remarks, in fact, come amid growing internal divisions within the EU (rising right-wing movements, persistent disagreements among member states on trade and defense), and serve as an emotional appeal. She seeks to convince the EU’s 27 member states and 450 million Europeans that despite external pressures like U.S. tariff threats and internal challenges such as energy crises and economic downturns, the "European model" remains the best in the world—and worth preserving through continued unity.
Due to the timing (May 9), which coincides with Victory Day in several Eastern European countries, Irish journalists criticized her for downplaying the Soviet Union’s role in WWII, highlighting deep-seated rifts in memory politics between the West and Russia.
On the surface, von der Leyen’s speech was a festive address—but in reality, it was a carefully crafted political mobilization. She aims to plant the EU’s flag on a symbol long dominated by Russia; at a time when the EU faces both internal turmoil (U.S. tariffs, pain from energy transition, rising right-wing politics) and external pressures, she leverages a combination of "values + quality of life" to stabilize public sentiment, unify consensus, and build political capital for future confrontations—with the U.S. and for deeper internal reforms.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864767186063360/
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