May 9 2008 is a double occasion for celebration in Bulgaria, marking both the end of World War 2 in 1945 and the first step towards the creation of the European Union in 1950, when French foreign minister Robert Schuman made his famous declaration, calling upon France and West Germany to put their coal and steel production under joint management.

On the morning of May 9, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov laid a wreath at the monument of the unknown soldier in Sofia to mark the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War 2, at the invitation of the Bulgarian war veterans' union. Defence Minister Nikolai Tsonev and army chief-of-staff Zlatan Stoikov also took part in the ceremony.

On the occasion of the Day of Europe, Sofia municipality and the representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria are organising a concert by the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will take place at 5.30pm in the square in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. If the weather is bad, the concert will be held at the Sveta Sofia hall in the Alexander I square at 6pm.

The Education Ministry will mark the Day of Europe for by making it a day of student self-governance at the ministry for the third year in a row, when students take over its management.

Victory Day and the Day of Europe will be marked by a number of other events both in Sofia and around the country.