 The Event Horizon Telescope is a global array of the world's most sensitive radio telescopes working together to reveal the first-ever image of a black hole. Today's breakthrough is the culmination of decades of effort by leading researchers from around the world. European observatories are at the forefront of this global adventure. Since the 90s, the type of observations which ultimately allow today's successor were pioneered with IRAM's observatories and the completion of NOEMA in the French Alps will add the most important northern counterpart to ALMA in the EHT network. Together, ESO and IRAM provide the most sensitive telescopes of the EHT array. They also developed cutting-edge technology for the facilities and for the benefit of the EHT. ESO's European leadership and the 500 million investments into ALMA and APEX have been instrumental to make the Event Horizon Telescope a success. We're now well prepared for future scientific challenges.