75 years ago, Robert Schuman laid the foundations of today’s European Union in his visionary appeal for a Europe bound by cooperation and solidarity. The Schuman Declaration was a transformative document that provides a blueprint for the EU’s long-standing commitment to peace, freedom and human rights, including the fundamental rights to privacy and data protection.
Every year at the EDPS, we celebrate Europe Day, the achievements and opportunities it made possible to Europeans. Honouring the legacy of those who advanced the European project is as important as looking ahead and listening to the generations that will shape its future.
I believe this is exemplified by our trainees; young people who were either born in the EU or witnessed their country join the European Union. They represent the future of Europe, and this is why it is important that they are given a space to share their experiences.
I have therefore asked them about how the EU has impacted their lives and what it means to be European today. Read on about what they had to say.
Wojciech Wiewiórowski
Dominik Boldizsar - Hungary - Blue Book Trainee at the EDPS, Supervision and Enforcement Unit
I was ten years old when Hungary joined the European Union in 2004. I didn’t fully grasp what the concept of the European Union meant back then, but I vividly remember the joy and pride it brought to the face of the Hungarian people - being a part of the European Union felt like a promise. As I grew older, this promise started to become more meaningful to me and I began to understand that beyond the rich diversity of languages, cultures, and histories, there is something intangible that binds us: a shared European identity. For me, this means that despite our differences, we must keep seeking common ground—a sense of belonging that doesn’t erase our uniqueness, but rather builds on it. That, for me, is the essence of Europe: unity not through uniformity, but through dialogue, solidarity, and mutual respect.
During my time as a Blue Book trainee at the European Data Protection Supervisor, I have had the chance to work in the Supervision and Enforcement Unit, a field that is both dynamic and deeply impactful. It’s a privilege to contribute to protecting fundamental rights - especially the right to personal data —in an era marked by complex legal challenges emerging from big data and artificial intelligence. My experience has shown me how EU institutions take the responsibility of responding to these challenges. To me, the concept of the European Union is not just an abstract idea; it is a collective effort to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Laura Hernández - Spain - Blue Book Trainee at the EDPS, Technology and Privacy Unit
Having grown up in an ultra-peripheral region, the EU provided me with a sort of abstract connection to the European continent. This sense of connection became more tangible when I turned 18 when I took advantage of the free movement of people to study and work outside of my beautiful island to step out of my comfort zone. While learning about exciting fields, from physics and philosophy to logic, I was able to meet people from all over the world. These experiences abroad have not only shaped my understanding of the world but also strengthened my democratic values.
In a continent where so many points of view coexist, democracy remains a crucial tool to represent our views and values. To protect democracy, our privacy must be respected. In an increasingly digital world controlled by a few technological giants, the EU must continue fighting for empowering citizens by protecting our privacy and, in turn, our autonomy and freedom. As a trainee at the EDPS, I feel part of this important movement. A movement to fight for a pillar of our democracy: our right to privacy.
Fernando Lucena - Spain - Blue Book Trainee at the EDPS, Information and Communication Unit
A child of the late nineties in Western Europe, I cannot say I remember the moment I learned about the EU as a concept. Unlike the people that raised me, my world was always counted in euros, not pesetas. When going on holiday to Portugal, even the idea of stamps on a passport felt like a thing of the past.
Maybe it’s because something like the EU always felt natural to me; the largest peace project. How vast, how different and how diverse the interests of its many members are, and yet how fitting it seems that they would converge in something greater than the sum of its parts.
As a young professional in communication, it is a privilege to work towards bringing the EU institutions closer to citizens. With my traineeship at EDPS, I am proud to be part of a European Union that sides with the public interest when it comes to upholding the fundamental rights to privacy and data protection.
I like to believe that today Europe is as much as a place as it is an idea: the idea that there is indeed a European people, made of nations equipped to working towards the future. That sounds like something worth celebrating indeed.
Annalinda Noce - Italy - Blue Book Trainee at the EDPS, Policy and Consultation Unit
Growing up as a European citizen, I’ve always felt connected to a wider community, not just through geography, but also through shared values and ideals. Over time, this connection became more personal. Thanks to the Erasmus programme, I had the chance to live in different countries, step out of my comfort zone, and experience first-hand the richness of cultural exchange. I discovered new ways of thinking, formed lasting friendships and truly felt the meaning of European unity.
These experiences shaped not only my academic path but also how I see the world and my role in it. The EU’s commitments to justice, human dignity, and inclusion have deeply influenced my professional choices. As a law graduate drawn to human rights, I’ve found meaning in using legal tools to protect what matters most: people’s freedoms, voices, and vulnerabilities. Working in Brussels and being close to the EU’s legal processes made those values feel tangible.
Privacy and data protection represent safeguards of our personal space and autonomy, they are at the heart of European values, protecting human dignity and ensuring citizens’ trust in democratic systems. As a trainee, I feel privileged to contribute to an institution that upholds these values every day, setting standards for fundamental rights. It’s a humbling and motivating experience.
Adrianna Piekart - Poland - Blue Book Trainee at the EDPS, Human Resources, Budget and Administration Unit
When I think about what the EU means to me, I think of open doors and opportunities. As a Polish person, thanks to EU mobility and education programmes, I was able to study in the UK, take part in an Erasmus+ exchange in France, and now live and work in Brussels. These opportunities were not just academic, they shaped who I am, widened my perspective, and allowed me to move between cultures with confidence.
As a trainee at the EDPS in the Human Resources Budget and Administration team, I see another side of Europe: the inner workings that keep an EU institution running, fairly and transparently. It is not only about rules and regulations, it is also deeply human; people coming together to create a better future for the EU and for each other.
Witnessing the divisiveness and uncertainty of Brexit first-hand while living and working in the UK gave me a strong appreciation for what unity really means and how fragile it can be. This experience has reinforced my commitment to contributing to Europe’s cohesion and growth.
This is why, for me, Europe Day is about celebrating the freedom to connect, to collaborate, and to build something better together.