Frankfurt, 08/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Walter Hallstein, who was the first President of the European Commission, the city of Frankfurt, the Goethe University of Frankfurt and the Walter Hallstein Institute of the Humbolt University of Berlin are, with the Dresdner Bank, organising the first "Walter Hallstein Symposium" in Frankfurt on 16 and 17 November. A debate is scheduled for 17 November with the participation of several European politicians, including Joschka Fischer.
The organisers recall that Walter Hallstein, who was President of the European Commission from 1958 to 1967, had, at the end of his term in office, published a book entitled "Der unvollendete Bundesstaat" ("The Unfinished Federation"), presenting the European Union as a system with "the recognisable and effective features of a federal structure", even though not yet defined. Over the past thirty years, "this system has undoubtedly developed in line with Walter Hallstein's anticipation", says a press release. (Contact: Klaus Klipp, City of Frankfurt - Office of European Affairs.. Tel.: 49-69-212 31 500. Fax: 49-69-212-3 17 30. Klaus.klipp@stadt.frankfurt.de).