This stockshot presents a portrait of Robert Schuman. From the Lorraine region, Schuman was the former President of the French Council, the former French Minister for Foreign Affairs, the President of the European Parliament and its President of honour. The three European Communities owe him their existence. The famous declaration of 9 May 1950 materialized an idea of Jean Monnet, the project known as the Schuman Plan, which then became the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It presents a new conception of the relations between European nations, establishing independent institutions with powers of their own. This fervent French patriot dedicated his life to two tasks: European construction and Franco-German reconciliation, its precondition.