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"World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it." For an united Europe, the "Declaration of 9 May 1950" was made by Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950 before the French Assembly.Above is an extract from the declaration. Inauguration and Subsequent Development "A mutual understanding of our cultures, our identities, is essential to true European integration." This assertion by Melina Mercouri, then Greek Minister of Culture, launched the system of the Cultural Capitals of Europe in 1985. Since then, the Council of Ministers of Culture of member countries of the EU (at that time the EC) have selected one city within an EU member country as the Cultural Capital of Europe, which over the course of one year holds a variety of artistic events to deepen mutual understanding. This system incorporates the thinking of the Ministers of Culture that "It being difficult to realize a single Europe through political and economic treaties and agreements alone, culture plays and important role in realizing integration." Integration of the European market was completed in 1993, and since that year the Cultural Capital of Europe has sought the broad participation of countries throughout the world rather than cultural exchange within the EU region alone and in June of that year the 1st EC-Japan Fest cultural exchange program was held in Antwerp. Cultural cooperation with Japan has continued since then with each year's Cultural Capital of Europe. The EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee has served as the Japan-side liaison since then, and each Cultural Capital of Europe each year since has seen joint projects with Japan in culture and the arts. The hosts of the Cultural Capital of Europe