Board and EC Meeting at Konrad Adenauer House, Berlin
Strengthen confidence in politics and Europe!
What does “Europe” stand for? /
Dr. Angela Merkel addresses Executive Committee
Text und Foto von
Ulrich Winz
Berlin (6th November). Another high point in the ESCU’s work in 2008 was how President, Dr. Bernhard Worms, described the consecutive meetings of the Board and Executive Committee. More than 70 delegates from almost all ESCU member countries met at Konrad Adenauer House in Berlin to discuss current events in Europe and the world at large. They also warmly welcomed their esteemed host, Dr. Angela Merkel, Chair of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and German Chancellor.
Merkel began her address by proposing that if the ESCU was there to "give Europe a soul", then she would like to express her appreciation that “Dr. Worms has in turn given the European Senior Citizens’ Union a soul.” It had been quite right on the occasion of the UN International Day for the Elderly for the Union’s President to direct the media to the dignity of human beings at all stages of life. Politics also needed to draw on this precept in its undertakings, said Merkel. Senior citizens’ organisations could “bring a great deal to the table”. “A society which dispenses with this experience will be an impoverished society”, as the experience of the elderly was indispensable. Dr. Merkel conceded that the very strict age limits in Germany could also be discriminatory and called for a review of the legal position.
Addressing the financial and banking crisis, she refused to accept that anyone should be refloated at the cost of others. That also applied to the USA. It was Europe’s task to support coordinated financial regulation, to fight child poverty, to take action against crimes against the environment and to counter the theft of intellectual property. Campaigning for the successful path Europe has taken with its social market economy was indeed worthwhile - particularly in view of the elections to the European Parliament in June 2009, the preparations for which as President Worms had stated at the outset was a concern of the ESCU.
| Board and EC Meeting at Konrad Adenauer House, Berlin: Strengthen confidence in politics and Europe! |
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After her talk PM Dr. Merkel received her portrait painted in Romania.
Left: Maria Mantziafou-Kanelloupoulo (GR), Pres. Dr. Worms (D); right: Prof. Dr. Andreas Khol (A) |
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Dr. Merkel gave frank answers to questions, for example, on EU enlargement ("We still don’t have the right recipe for an EU of 40"), the future of Belarus (“I am delighted that a representative is present here; the freedom to travel will come”), the outlook for the “Lisbon Treaty” (“There is no alternative”; we long to have the Czech Republic, which has the EU Presidency for the first half of 2009, Sweden and Ireland on board; “In Germany, it is likely that the Constitutional Court will make a positive decision.")
Hope and reconciliation
Dr. Worms spoke in his address about the enthusiastic participation of many Americans in the election, which serves as a lesson for Europe with its voter fatigue. The outcome of the election and the global crisis raised hopes of America’s reconciliation with Asia and Europe, as it was a country in need of “a face and a soul”. A continent in harmony with itself with the power to exert significant influence would suit Europe. In this respect, our Union will also be taking part in the preparations for the EPP Congress to be held in Warsaw at the end of April 2009. The ESCU advocates that - as well as discussions in the Polish capital covering economic issues - there is still an opportunity and time for answering questions such as “What do we depend on?” and “Whom can we trust?”, which could be key to the election result.
Secretary General Uhlenbrock informed the meeting in this regard that the EPP/DE Parliamentary Group at the European Parliament is preparing a number of analyses including their backing for senior citizens, security in Europe and Europe’s position in the world.
In the debate, Vice President Elisabeth Dispaux-Cornil (Belgium) pointed out that
a “social Europe” is extremely important for many senior citizens. Dr. Marilies Flemming, Vice President from Austria, reinforced this comment with her experience at an event in Ljubljana, where pensions were discussed. “What does the individual get out of the EU?” was the no. 1 question being asked by senior citizens at the event and elsewhere. Vice President Carlo Fatuzzo (Italy) drew a close connection between the social security system and the human dignity of the elderly.
Vice President Vaclav Roubal informed the meeting that following the experience in Austria and Slovakia the Christian Senior Citizens in the Czech Republic have been invited to join a pilgrimage dedicated to Our Lady near Prague next year. He saw this as an opportunity for a strengthening of faith among both old and young. Vice President Nicolas Estgen mentioned as part of the discussion that there had been a good response to events held in Luxembourg with young people. These had also included citizens not affiliated to any party from among the rural population - workers, owners of small businesses and even union leaders. On the other hand, Vice President Maria Mantziafou–Kanellopoulou complained that in Greece the issue of “intergenerational cooperation” was extremely inadequately covered – even in school text books. Vice President Leif Hallberg expressed his regret that in Sweden discussions between the generations often amounted to nothing more than monologues.
Vice President Pol Marck (Belgium) called for a publication to be drafted which points the way to achieving a “social Europe”. Dr. Andreas Khol, Chairman of the Austrian Senior Citizens' Union, suggested an “ESCU Manifesto for Europe” taking the line of “What do we want in Europe?”. Picking up on both remarks, Dr. Worms asked all participants to forward suitable proposals in writing to the General Secretariat no later than 10th January for a publication which had already been scheduled for the European elections.
Personal matters and future plans
The representatives of the ESCU assembled in Berlin sent their best wishes to former German Chancellor, Dr. Helmut Kohl, for his recovery and their respects to him as an Honorary Citizen of Europe. The President welcomed former Minister of State, Dr. Reinhold Bocklet, Vice President from Bavaria (D), and congratulated him on his election as the first representative of the President of the Bavarian Parliament.
The Executive Committee then elected Dr. Edeltraud Paul (Mödling near Vienna) to serve as ESCU Treasurer until the VII Congress in 2010. She succeeds her husband, Prof. Walter Paul, who passed away in June.
The dates and topics for the four Regional Conferences to be held next year were decided. (Please see “Senior International” Issue 22 – November 2008.) The conferences held in collaboration with the EPP – as decided unanimously by delegates – have developed into a significant area of work for the ESCU and continue to be given priority. In October, the first conference for the Central Region successfully took place in Saarbrücken. As of the 2nd Regional Conference planned for the 17th March in Eupen (Belgium), this region (France, the Benelux States, the United Kingdom and the western part of Germany) will be designated the "Western" Region. The Board meets on 5th March in Brussels.
The Northern Region’s news received at the Berlin meeting that two parties in Norway and Denmark are interested in joining the ESCU met with applause. Discussions are underway which Vice President Hallberg will continue in the short term. Denmark’s admission would consign another blank area on the ESCU map to the past. Currently, the ESCU has members and observers in 28 countries.
Ingeborg Uhlenbrock advised the meeting that the ESCU currently has no office in Brussels. All correspondence should therefore be directed to the General Secretariat in Frechen (D).
Ulrich Winz
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