BDE: Europe built daily through cooperation and exchange
The Banco de España emphasizes that European integration is built through daily cooperation and shared projects. This collaborative spirit, rooted in the 1950 Schuman Declaration, is evident in the work of central banks and staff exchange programs like Schuman.
From Schuman's vision to daily practice
The Banco de España highlights that European integration, a project rooted in the 1950 Schuman Declaration, is built through concrete, daily cooperation.
This foundational vision, aimed at ensuring peace through practical collaboration, evolved from pooling strategic resources to the comprehensive economic and political integration of the European Union.
Principles of trust, shared institutions, and mutual interests remain central.
Within this framework, the Banco de España actively collaborates daily with the European Central Bank (ECB) and other national central banks across all levels.
This cooperation extends from technical work, like data comparison and analysis sharing, to high-level decision-making bodies such as the Governing Council.
This continuous engagement ensures consistent, well-informed decisions for the euro area economy, particularly in price and financial stability.
Benefits of a united Europe and staff exchange
European cooperation has brought significant progress, enabling free movement, a common currency, and a single market.
This collaborative spirit extends to professional opportunities, exemplified by the Schuman Programme.
This initiative facilitates secondments for central bank staff to other euro area central banks or supervisors, fostering direct collaboration and international work experience.
The Banco de España has participated in every edition since 2017.
In the 2025/2026 edition, the BDE published four projects on strategic areas like transparency and collateral management.
It also welcomed staff from several national central banks and the ECB, highlighting the program's value in building cross-institutional rapport and shared expertise.
Beyond treaties: a living project
This blog post effectively illustrates that European integration is far more than abstract treaties; it is a dynamic, living project built on daily interactions and shared professional experiences.
The personal accounts from the Schuman Programme participants underscore the profound impact of cross-border collaboration on individual growth and institutional effectiveness.
Such initiatives are crucial for fostering the deep-seated solidarity necessary to navigate complex common challenges.