On May 11, 2026, Swiss Post will issue a stamp to mark the 70th anniversary of the EUROPA stamp, once again celebrating the coming together of people around shared values and inspiring philatelists worldwide.
In 1956, six founding countries of the European Union (Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) launched the idea of strengthening ties between European nations with a philatelic project: the joint issuance of stamps under the EUROPA logo.
Seventy years later, fifty-three [53] postal administrations have joined this initiative, and to mark the occasion, PostEurop organized a competition on the theme "70th Anniversary of the EUROPA Stamp: United in...".
Fifteen proposals were submitted to a vote by fifty postal operators, who selected the design from Finland (Posti Ltd) by the artist Klaus Welp. This Finnish-German designer, renowned for his artistic and journalistic career and the recipient of numerous national and international awards for his illustration, graphic design, and video work, has already created more than 120 stamps for Finland.
“In today’s turbulent world, there is a growing need for peace, unity, and a strong sense of community, as well as reliable communication systems. A well-functioning national postal service is a fundamental pillar for democracies, as it ensures security and connectivity for citizens,” said the delighted winner.
Klaus Welp explored a visual concept that combines both abstract and symbolic elements to represent seventy years of collaborative efforts focused on the performance of postal services, set against a backdrop of colorful gradients evoking the European flag, the energy, and the cultural diversity of the continent. With this 2026 graphic design, the EUROPA stamps once again celebrate the coming together of peoples around shared values and continue to inspire philatelists around the world.
