Brussels, 01/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The day before France took over the EU Presidency, on Monday 30 June, the Land of Baden-Wurtemberg, the Alsace region and the Hans Seidel Foundation organised a public debate before a very large gathering. Notable participants included the president of the EPP-ED Group, Joseph Daul, and the German Christian Democrats, Markus Ferber and Rainer Wieland. Discussion covered the impact that the Irish vote would have on the French EU Presidency and how to overcome the institutional crisis. The president of the region of Alsace stressed the need to “give Europe a meaning”. “The market is not there for the market's sake alone. Competition is not there for competition's sake alone”, said Adrien Zeller, saying that values should be placed back at the heart of the European project to allow citizens to be proud of their institutions. The president of the European Movement France said the European Council had nothing to make one proud. Sylvie Goulard took the view that it is essential for the “founding act of democracy, the agreement to pay taxes” to be covered by a discussion at the European Parliament instead of intergovernmental decisions at the European Council (she used the expression “small trafficking”). In some ways, the Irish “no” is a good thing as it means that the European Council did not simply “take a whole series of names out of a hat without public debate”. At this point she was referring to the designation of the president of the European Council, of the European Commission and of the high representative. Ms Goulard finally called for a debate on the borders of Europe. The European Council must stop deciding on accessions “on the sly”, she said. “Many citizens are wondering what Europe can bring them in concrete terms”, commented the German Social Democrat member, Evelyne Gebhardt, calling for the development of a social Europe. After the fashion of other speakers, she stressed that the French Presidency has the responsibility of closing the institutional digression so that Europe may continue to move forward. Many speakers finally stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation between France and Germany, which, they believe, is a first condition for a successful French Presidency. (O.J./transl.jl)