Brussels, 31/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek inaugurated two new public spaces on Tuesday 30 August: the SolidarnoϾ 1980 Esplanade and the Simone Veil Agora, in front of Parliament's Altiero Spinelli building in Brussels. These spaces are designed to honour the Polish trade union SolidarnoϾ, whose activities led to the collapse of communism in central Europe, and Simone Veil, the first President of the directly-elected EP in 1979.
“Madame Simone Veil was the President of the European Parliament when Solidarnoœæ was born in Poland. Not many believed then that Europe would change so quickly. But Simone Veil was one of those few with enough faith. Thank you for that”, said President Buzek during the ceremony. He added: “25 years ago we used to say in Poland: 'There is no freedom without Solidarity'. Today, here in Brussels, at the heart of Europe we say: 'There is no Europe without solidarity'. (...) The value of solidarity is today indispensable in Europe, but also all over the world”.
Veil said she was deeply moved that the area in front of the EP will bear her name. She also stressed that the financial crisis was a real danger for the European model and called on political leaders to build an atmosphere of trust in the EU.
Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshall of the Polish Senate and one of the founders of Solidarnoœæ, referred to the fight of North African nations for freedom. “We won our fight thanks to help from Western Europe. We fought for freedom, for civil rights. People in North Africa are fighting for these things today and we have to remember them”. (O.L./transl.rt)