Foundation Stone

“Educated side by side, untroubled from infancy by divisive prejudices, acquainted with all that is great and good in the different cultures, it will be borne in upon them as they mature that they belong together. Without ceasing to look to their own lands with love and pride, they will become in mind Europeans, schooled and ready to complete and consolidate the work of their fathers before them, to bring into being a united and thriving Europe.”
Marcel Decombis
Marcel Decombis
Member of the cabinet of Jean Monnet and Head of the European School, Luxembourg between 1953 and 1960.
Jean Monnet

Jean Monnet

Jean Monnet (1888-1979) has been called “The Father of Europe”. He was a French political economist and diplomat who played a crucial role in the establishment of the European Union. He worked tirelessly to promote economic cooperation among European nations, particularly through the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. Monnet’s vision centered around supranationalism and the idea that through collaboration and integration, Europe could achieve lasting peace and prosperity. His ideas and efforts laid the foundation for the European Union as we know it today.

The quote above underscores the belief that education can play a pivotal role in fostering European integration. By nurturing a shared understanding and a sense of common identity among the younger generation, he envisioned a Europe that could overcome historical divisions and work collaboratively towards a harmonious and prosperous future. The words which express the essential aims of the European Schools have been sealed, in parchment, into the foundation stones of all the schools.