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VIth Congress
VIth Congress took place from 29th September till 2nd October 2007 in the
Kultur- und Medienzentrum, Pulheim, Germany.
| VIth Congress of European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU) |
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Photo 1: (L to R) Michael Breuer, Minister for Federation and Europe of North Rhine-Westfalia state, Dr. Bernhard Worms, MEP Ruth Hieronymi, Dr. Norbert Kühn of Rhineland Regional Council (LVR).
Photo 2: Group photo of delegates of German CDU-Senioren-Union with President Dr. Worms. |
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Inter-generational cooperation agreed
Dr. Bernhard Worms
confirmed as President /
Mr. Wilhelm Mohaupt
appointed Honorary President
With a rendition of the European Anthem, the VIth ESCU Congress came to a close on 2nd October in the Rhineland town of Pulheim. For almost 200 delegates and up to 40 guests from 21 countries, Schiller’s words “All men shall be brothers” became a vow to continue their voluntary work for peace, freedom and democracy in a united Europe. They shall achieve these aims - in unison with the unanimously adopted “Pulheim Declaration” – by means of inter-generational collaboration. With the life experience and political foresight of an older generation, they are spurred on to pursing an active partnership with the up and coming generations. And furthermore, this fellowship of young and old represents for them “the guarantee for Europe’s future”. For not only was this written large over the platform backdrop at the congress hall in the President's home town, but it was also reinforced and set in stone by prominent speakers and keynote speakers. (For the text of the "Pulheim Declaration”, see below)
With over 97 per cent of the vote, delegates re-elected Dr. Bernhard Worms as President of the European Senior Citizens' Union, which currently covers 38 senior citizens’ organisations and/or parties from 23 countries with close to half a million members.
Ms. Ingeborg Uhlenbrock (D) stayed in post as Secretary General, as did Minutes Secretary Dr. Hermann Berié (D). Dr. Gebhard Glück (from Passau and Chair of German CSU Seniors for many years) stepped down from the Board and was given a rousing send-off by the Congress, which he chaired for most of the business. Dr. Pal Aszodi, Vice President from Hungary, had also stepped down due to illness, and the Congress extended its best wishes for a speedy recovery.
| VIth Congress of European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU) |
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Photo 1: Dr. Bernhard Worms and Prof. Nicolas Estgen who held the laudation speech in honour of Ing. Wilhelm Mohaupt (middle)
Photo 2: St. Nikolaus Church and Cloister, Abbey Brauweiler, Pulheim |
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Amidst great applause and proposed by Dr. Worms, the former Secretary General and hitherto Vice President Wilhelm Mohaupt (of Vienna) was nominated “Honorary President”. A period of silent commemoration was held for the previous Honorary President, Dr. Stefan Knafl (of Austria), who passed away in 2005.
The new Vice Presidents are: Mr. Reinhold Bocklet (D), Ms. Elisabeth Dispaux-Cornil (B); hitherto Board Member); Mr. Carlo Fatuzzo (I); Dr. Marilies Flemming (A) and Dr. Vaclav Roubal (CZ). Confirmed as Vice Presidents by the Congress were: Prof. Nicolas Estgen (L); Mr. Leif Hallberg (S); Ms. Maria Kanellopoulou-Mantziafou (GR); Mr. Pol Marck (B) and Ms. Carmen Quintanilla Barba (E).
| VIth Congress of European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU) |
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Photo 1: Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert PÖTTERING delivering a speech.
Photo 2: Group photo of Luxembourgian Delegation with President Dr. Worms. |
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Inspiration from Pöttering
In a stirring speech presented in German and English, the President of the European Parliament, Prof. Hans-Gert Pöttering owned up to being a member of the German Seniors’ Union. He rated the unification of Europe as “a miracle of our times” and appealed for human rights to be defended where there were instances of a loss of credibility - even in the USA (Guantanamo) - and for creation to be safeguarded. He declared that the agreement for the European treaty initiative depended on the ability of European institutions to act in a timely manner.
Dr. Andreas Khol, Chairman of the Austrian Senior Citizens' Union (with 300,000 members in more than 2,000 local groups with representatives on all local, regional and national administrations) was clear: “We are not demanding retirement and almshouses but a share in the country’s wealth. We won’t be fobbed off!” Care and support – according to Khol – are part and parcel of a comprehensive social security system, the financing of which must be derived from one source.
German Chancellor and CDU Chairwoman, Dr. Angela Merkel (D), sent a video message to the Congress and described the cooperation of young and old as indispensable. Prime Minister Karamanlis of Greece and host State President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Jürgen Rüttgers, conveyed their greetings, while Mr. Elmar Brok MEP (on behalf of EUCDA), Mr. Yannis Smyrlis (of Greece and Chair of the EPP Youth Section), Mr. Joaqim Hernandez-Dispaux (Belgium, on behalf of young students) and the Minister for Inter-Generational Affairs for the German host state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mr. Achim Laschet. all spoke to the congress theme. Greetings were extended by the NRW Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Michael Breuer, Ms. Ruth Hieronymi (MEP for NRW) and Mr. Konrad Adenauer (grandson of the late German Chancellor), and Prof. Ursula Lehr (D) gave a clear explanation and rationale for the draft resolution – the “Pulheim Declaration”.
| VIth Congress of European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU) |
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Photo 1: A view to the congress hall
Photo 2: President Worms opens the Rhine's evening with the Pulheim Children’s and Youths’ Choir. |
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Dr. Norbert Kühn welcomed the Congress on behalf of the Brauweiler-based Landschaftsverband Rheinland [Rhineland Regional Council]. Holy Mass was celebrated by Dr. Dick, Suffragan Bishop of Cologne in the famous abbey church of St. Nicholas of Brauweiler which dates from the 11th century. The First Pulheim Male Voice Choir performed the “Missa Brevis” by Charles Gounod.
Congress participants were treated to more cultural delights with performances by the Kammer Philharmonie Amadé [Amadé Chamber Philharmonic] (conductor: Frieder Obstfeld; soloist: Margarita Höhenrieder, piano) as well as the Pulheim Children’s and Youths’ Choir. Sure to remain an unforgettable experience for the senior citizens of Europe was the pilgrimage to the shrine of the Three Kings and the Gero Cross at Cologne Cathedral.
A reminder of the Congress at Pulheim will at least remain with the planting of a mulberry tree in the municipal park – a gift to Pulheim’s Mayor, Dr. Karl August Morisse.
Delegates and guests alike declared the VIth Congress to be one of the high points in the 17-year-old history of the European Senior Citizens' Union. The encounters, debates, conversations and convivial events took place in an extremely friendly atmosphere, with participants aware of their shared responsibility for the future of our continent.
Ulrich Winz
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