Brussels, 04/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 July, the presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament hailed King Albert II's decision to abdicate on 21 July in favour of unity in Belgium and European construction.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso said (unofficial translation): “It is with great emotion that I have heard the announcement of His Majesty King Albert II's abdication. On behalf of the European Commission and in my name personally, I wish to express our sincere thanks to him for his untiring service to Belgium and to Europe. Throughout his 20 years of reign, he has been an ardent defender of the values that are at the base of European construction”. Barroso expressed his wishes to Philippe, the future King of Belgium, in the “firm conviction that he will continue the privileged links formed over the past 60 years between Belgium and the European institutions”. Herman Van Rompuy, EU Council President, expressed, on Twitter, his gratitude and respect for everything the King has done for his country. Also on Twitter, Martin Schulz, EP President, praised him as a friend of Europe, a source of stability, of unity and of inspiration in his own country and elsewhere. (MB/transl.jl)