“Walking for a united Europe“ – this was the theme of the EURORANDO-event 2001. The European Rambler´s Association (ERA) organised during the years 2000 and 2001 for this purpose a series of relay walks on ten different trails. From the outermost corners of Europe – from the West, from the South, from the East and from the North, walkers started their way to Strasbourg where these impressive events ended from 22 to 30 September 2001. There, a conference took place in the Schumann-Hall of the European Parliament.
More than a quarter of a million of walking enthusiasts participated in the different stages of the relay walks. More than 5,000 walkers reached Strasbourg – the heart of Europe for the final week in September. About 13,000 people joined the final parade through the “City of Europe”. This took place under the auspices of the French president Jacques Chirac, the president of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer.
During the pan-European relay walks more than 20 meetings occurred. In this way, walkers met prominent politicians in different countries as well as members of the European Parliament. The highlight of the meeting was the adoption of the “Declaration of Strasbourg”. In total, 53 member organisations of the ERA from 26 countries highlighted the outstanding importance of the “Europe house” for the future – a house which consists of multifaceted regional and cultural traditions. Times have not always been peaceful so a united peaceful Europe is to be preferred. The walking movement supports the uniting of Europe for, as is written in the declaration: “Ramblers know no frontiers” and “rambling brings people of different nationalities and all ages together”.