Paris, 11/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Several events are expected this year to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950. In particular, the Jean monnet Association is organising an international seminar at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris on 9 and 10 May on "9 May 1950: a revolution to extend", placing emphasis on Jean Monnet's contribution to the European integration process launched by the Robert Schuman Declaration, French Foreign Minister (the seminar's title recalls that the Schuman Declaration had been "inspired by Jean Monnet").
Here is the provisional programme of the seminar, that should be closed by European Commission President Romano Prodi (some speakers have agreed, others are expected).
Tuesday 9 May.
In the morning, chaired by former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, participants will discuss the subject: "9 May 1950: a historic breach". Among them, will be Professor Pierre Gerbet, the writer George Steiner and journalist Alain Duhamel.
In the afternoon, chaired by the historian Alfred Grosser, the debates will be on "A mutation standing the test of time", with, in particular, Francois Duchene, who was one of Jean Monnet's closest collaborators, Jean-Francois Revel and Marc Fumaroli, both of the Academie Francaise.
Wednesday 10 May.
The topic to be discussed in the morning, chaired by Jean-Francois Deniau of the Academie Francaise, will be "Towards a multi-national democracy", with contributions by Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, the Honorary President of the Commission Trilaterale Georges Berthoin, and Professor Jean-Louis Quermonne.
In the afternoon session, chaired by the former President of the Portuguese Republic, Mario Soares (now Euro-MP), participants will turn to "Forms of organisation in tomorrow's world", with Jean-Louis Bourlanges MEP (former President of the European Movement/France) and the Italian writer Pietro Citati and French Alain Finkielkraut.
Romano Prodi, Commission President, will draw the conclusions of the work.
Address. Association Jean Monnet, 9b rue Georges Berger, F-75017 Paris. Tel.: 56 33 7 00. Fax: 48 88 09 42. E-mail: ajmonnet@club-internet.fr