14/02/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 14 February, MEPs paid tribute to former European Parliament President José María Gil-Robles, who died the day before. A member of the Spanish People’s Party and the European People’s Party, the Spaniard held the presidency of the institution from 1997 to 1999 and was a member of the European Parliament for three successive terms, from 1989 to 2004. “He will be remembered for ensuring that the Parliament was directly involved in the negotiation of the Amsterdam Treaty, including the inclusion of the legal basis for the adoption of the Statute for Members, through which the Parliament became more independent”, remarked European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. (CG)