A Mass for the repose of the soul of Ms Loyola de Palacio, former Member of the EPP-ED Group, was celebrated on Wednesday, 31 January 2007, at the Notre Dame Church at Sablon, Brussels.

Born in Madrid, Loyola de Palacio studied in the Lycée Francaise and obtained her law degree from the University Complutense of Madrid. She was a founder member of her party in 1976, becoming Minister for Agriculture in 1996, then Vice-President of the European Commission, as Commissioner for Transport and Energy in 1999.

Loyola de Palacio devoted all her intellectual energy to politics. She was noted for her frankness and well-preparedness. In paying tribute to Ms de Palacio, former Group Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering said:

"We have lost a good friend, a sincere and upright person and a leading personality of our political family".