An independent group consisting of academics, artists, and business people, including political scientist Prof. Dr. Ulrike Guérot, one of Germany’s leading European experts, actress Isabelle Casel, and journalist Peter van Stigt, has launched a new initiative called the European Peace Project.

The project aims to put the future of Europe into the hands of its citizens and promote sustainable peace on the continent.

The project currently boasts over 15,000 participants, Guérot says

German political scientist Ulrike Guérot has provided an update on the European Peace Project, revealing significant growth and future plans, including an application for United Nations funding and the organization of a major conference in 2026.

Speaking about the initiative, Guérot told Harici that, “I’m very happy that our European Peace Project is gathering so much attention.” She reported that the project currently boasts over 15,000 participants, noting that the high volume of interest has temporarily overloaded their website.

A key development is the project’s application for UN funding. Guérot explained, “we yesterday applied for UN funding for the project because we fit into the Sustainable Development Goals No. 16, which is peace, and there is a project where you can apply when you are going with creativity and art, and that is what we are doing.” The project hopes this funding will allow it to continue its work beyond May 9th.

Looking ahead, the European Peace Project plans to create a digital gallery showcasing participants’ contributions. Guérot encouraged supporters to “read the manifesto at the place you are, send us photos, send us your video material, and then we will have soon a digital gallery.”

‘We are rebuilding the next Europe for the 21st century’

With a database of approximately 15,000 participant emails, the project is also setting its sights on a significant future event: a Hertenstein 2.0 conference scheduled for September 2026. Guérot drew a parallel to the original Hertenstein gathering in 1946, where European citizens convened after World War II “and they wanted to create a federal and social and just Europe.”

Guérot framed the upcoming conference within the context of the present, stating, “we are now at a moment in time where the European Union is failing, we are rebuilding the next Europe for the 21st century.” She expressed optimism that the large number of participants in the European Peace Project would enable them “to build a European people’s conference, a European citizens conference for September 2026.”

Concluding her remarks, Guérot conveyed her gratitude, saying, “I’m very thankful, I’m delighted for all the people who have been participating so far and who are helping us to make it a huge event, 80 years after World War II, European citizens proclaim peace.”

The main event of the project will take place on May 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM. On this date, citizens in all countries across the European continent and in all European languages will simultaneously shout peace slogans from their windows, balconies, and squares.

The project organizers emphasize that the efforts of the European Union and national governments to drag Europe into war against Russia constitute a betrayal of fundamental European principles such as peace, democracy, freedom, and mutual understanding among peoples.

The project asks participants to film and photograph their actions and send them to be published in a digital gallery to be created on the project website. In this way, it will be documented that European citizens are on the side of peace, not war.

Participation in the project is possible individually or as an organization. It is stated that everyone who participates will be represented by a peace dove symbol on an interactive European map in the coming weeks.

The project aims for broad participation covering all of Europe, from Dublin to Thessaloniki, Lisbon to Helsinki, and even Moscow.

The project website will also feature a function where participants can enter events in their own locations and find other participants nearby.

Additionally, artistic templates for materials such as posters, t-shirts, and stickers will be offered for project promotion. The project states that it needs enthusiasm, commitment, creativity, and financial support for the realization of this large event, and requests a donation of at least 1 euro from every registered participant.

The call text of the European Peace Project, titled “In Europe, we have something to say about peace,” includes the following statements:

“May 9 at 5:00 PM: Time to give a sign for Europe’s peaceful future!

If the EU and their national governments want to drag us into war against Russia, it means they are betraying all fundamental European principles such as peace, democracy, freedom, and mutual understanding among peoples! Therefore, we, as European citizens, are taking the future of this wonderful continent into our own hands! We are launching the European Peace Project. On May 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM, let’s all together, in all countries across the European continent and in all European languages, shout PEACE from our windows, balconies, and squares with a performative word action! And afterwards, let’s celebrate!

You can find the call text here in many languages. If your country’s language or local language (Catalan, Welsh, Alsatian, etc.) is missing, please send us the translation! You can change the call text as you wish (remove or add things). In this case, please add your own imprint (VisdP) information below the text.

Join our peace action and fill out the contact form; this way we can inform you about all planning and events.

Please help us make this project big and meaningful!

For this, enthusiasm, commitment, and creativity are needed, as well as a little money. Therefore, we ask everyone who registers and participates here to donate at least 1 euro.

You can participate in the European Peace Project as an individual or as an organization. Everyone who registers will receive a peace dove on an interactive European map in the coming weeks, showing that you, your city, and your village are also participating in this action; with participation extending from Dublin to Thessaloniki, Lisbon to Helsinki, traversing all of Europe and the continent from end to end, reaching Moscow and even beyond!

Also on the site, there will be a feature where you can enter planned events in your location or find other participants near you; so you can gather for this action!

In the Art Work section on our website, we will be offering artistic templates for posters, t-shirts, stickers, badges, or flags to promote the European Peace Project in the coming weeks. You can print these yourself at a copy shop or via online order — as posters at bus stops, on trees, on billboards, on walls, or at your workplace.

You can creatively expand the basic idea of opening the window and reading the peace manifesto on May 9 at 5:00 PM with actions, art, performances, happenings, or flashmobs: You are the actors of the European Peace Project, and you shape this idea according to your own imagination!

Please film or photograph yourself at the window or in your square while making the call, and then send these pictures/videos to us. We will publish them in a digital gallery on this website after May 9, 2025, to document that European citizens are on the side of peace, not war!”