Peace Monuments Related to the European Union (EC)

Right click image to enlarge.

1953 - Bridge of Europe, across Rhine River between Strasbourg (France) & Kehl (Germany). "Permanent artistic installation, a bond between two countries for which the border formerly seemed & wanted to be insuperable. According to Roland Ries, then mayor of Strasbourg, 'Here, it is indeed Europe, because this bridge connects two countries that have been torn apart for a long time; the reconciliation of these two countries is today one of the surest supports of the European construction.'"

1965 - Bâtiment Alcide de Gasperi (ou bâtiment "Tour" du Parlement européen), Quartier Européen du Kirchberg (Luxembourg). "Construit de 1960 à 1965, constitue avec ses 22 étages le premier 'gratte-ciel' de la ville de Luxembourg." Houses the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

Date? - L'ancien hémicyle du Parlement européen à Luxembourg, aujourd'hui un centre de conférence européen.

After 1985 - "Schengen Agreement" monument, near Moselle bridge, Schengen (Luxembourg). "Three steel pillars, each with a star represent the first participant countries of the Schengen Agreement, being France, Germany and the Benelux countries, who met here in the triangle where the borders of Germany, France, and Luxembourg meet... This is a treaty signed in 1985, on the river-boat "Princesse Marie-Astrid," providing for the removal of systematic border controls between the participating countries."

T R E E

June 4, 1991 - Sri Chinmoy Peace Tree, Beliardstraat, Leopoldpark, Brussels (Belgium). Plaque: "This tree is dedicated to humanity’s aspiration for World Peace. From man’s inner realisation of peace, World Peace will grow and mankind will become a Oneness-World Peace-Family. In this process the oneness of the European nations is a significant achievement, therefore this tree is also dedicated to the United Europe. This peace tree has been planted and inaugurated on the occasion on the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run on June 4 ,1991."

February 7, 1992 - Provincial Government Buildings, Meuse River, Maastricht (Netherlands). Became "unintentional monument" with signing of the so-called Maastricht Treaty -- formally, the Treaty on European Union (TEU) -- by the members of the European Community. The TEU entered into force on November 1, 1993, during the Delors Commission. It created the European Union and led to the creation of the Euro.

1993 - Europen Parliament, Espace Léopold / Leopoldruimte, Brussels (Belgium). "Parliament has two meeting places, namely the Louise Weiss building in Strasbourg (France) which serves for twelve four-day plenary sessions per year and is the official seat, and the Espace Léopold (Dutch: Leopoldruimte) complex in Brussels (Belgium), the larger of the two, which serves for committee meetings, political groups and complementary plenary sessions."

1995 - European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l’homme, Strasbourg (France).

May 29, 1995 - Council of the European Union, Justus Lipsius Building, 175 Rue de la Loi, Brussels (Belgium). "The institution of the European Union (EU) responsible for defining the general political direction and priorities of the Union." Right image shows scupture 2000, outside the European Council Building.

P L A Q U E 1997 - Jean Monnet Plaque, Washington, DC (USA). Jean Monnet [1888-1979] is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity.

1999 - Europen Parliament, Immeuble Louise Weiss, Quartier Européen / European Quarter, Strasbourg (France). "Parliament has two meeting places, namely the Louise Weiss building in Strasbourg, France, which serves for twelve four-day plenary sessions per year and is the official seat, and the Espace Léopold (Dutch: Leopoldruimte) complex in Brussels, Belgium, the larger of the two, which serves for committee meetings, political groups and complementary plenary sessions."

S C U L P T U R E

December 9, 2003 - Statue of Europe "Unity in Peace," Centre Erasmus, Jardin Van Maerlant. Brussels (Belgium). "Dedicated to Europe and offered to the European Commission by the French sculptor Bernard Romain. At the occasion of the year 2003 which was devoted to disabled people. Manufactured, modelled, polished and painted by children with challenged vision of different cultures under the supervision of Bernard Romain."

Date? - Monument of European Unity, Berlin (Germany).

S C U L P T U R E June 11, 2009 - "Entropa," Prague (Czech Republic). "A €373,000 over-sized mosaic map of Europe...commissioned to mark the start of the Czech Republic’s six-month presidency of the European Union. Each of its interlocking segments was supposed to celebrate the union’s 27 member nations but instead offered satirical depictions: Italy was represented with a soccer field; Romania was shown as a Count Dracula theme park; a series of toilets stood in for Bulgaria."