Press Release

10/05/2000: EPP-ED Group Celebrates Schuman Day


The EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament held a special meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Robert Schuman. Group members and invited guests heard speeches from Hans-Gert Poettering, Group Chairman, Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, Wilfried Martens, President of the EPP, José Gil Robles Gil Delgado, former President of the European Parliament and Jacques Santer, former Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission.

The Group also applauded the views expressed in support of the ideals of Robert Schuman by Stéphanie Verihac (France) and Aleksandra Aulegtner (Poland), representing the younger generation of Europeans.

Hans-Gert Poettering said that "Robert Schuman's message has lost none of its relevance and still sets the standard for our future action. It is because our Europe was built on a solid institutional basis and equitable moral foundations that it has retained its power of attraction and has proved so irresistible, rendering obsolete the shackles of the Communist world. To remain faithful to the teachings and principles of the founding fathers is to remain faithful to ourselves and to safeguard the success of our common future", he concluded.

"The founding act of 9 May 1950 was, without doubt, the origin of the greatest success of the last century", declared Wilfried Martens, President of the EPP. Having examined the details of the Schuman Plan, Mr Martens concluded, "We have not finished building on this message which has preserved our contintent from fear and war and gives us the courage to build a better future."

The full text of all the speeches in several languages, a Group Declaration and photos of the event can be seen at:
http://www.epp-ed.eu/tree/press/peve00/eve003_en.htm.

For further information, contact R.A. Fitzhenry on GSM +32 75 493356