05-31.05.2026 Exhibition: ‘The Founding Mothers and Fathers of the European Union’ – Marghera

From 5 to 31 May 2026, the exhibition “The Founding Mothers and Fathers of the European Union” will be held in Marghera (VE) at the Nave de Vero Shopping Centre, 20 Via Pietro Arduino, organised by Europe Direct Venezia Veneto of the City of Venice in collaboration with the Nave de Vero Shopping Centre.

The exhibition consists of twenty-two display panels in Italian and English, showcasing the men and women whose tireless dedication helped turn the European Union from a dream into a reality.

Europe Direct Venezia Veneto, the European Union’s information centre serving the Veneto region, presents the educational exhibition “The Founding Mothers and Fathers of the European Union”, based on official documentation from the European Commission.

The exhibition is dedicated to the 8 women and 13 men – visionary leaders – who inspired the creation of the European Union in which we live today.
Without their commitment and drive, we would not be able to live in the peaceful and stable environment that we now take for granted. Whether resistance fighters, lawyers or parliamentarians, the EU’s pioneers were a diverse group of people driven by the same ideals: peace, unity and prosperity in Europe.
In addition to the pioneers presented below, many others inspired the European project and worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition.

• The Founding Mothers:    

• The Founding Fathers: 

The central theme of the exhibition is the conviction held by these men and women that the peoples of Europe, whilst remaining proud of their national identities and histories, were determined to overcome long-standing divisions and build their shared future together. The exhibition comprises 21 panels and combines drawings and photographs with a series of bilingual texts, written in Italian and English, in order to reach both national and international audiences.

Visit the European Commission’s official website