Strasbourg, 06/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - During his last speech as president of the European Parliament, delivered on Wednesday 6 May, Hans-Gert Pöttering stressed that 375 million people will be taking part in the European elections from 4 to 7 June this year. Speaking to his colleagues to thank them for their commitment to the European cause, the German Christian Democrat said he felt they had accomplished some good work and that they had been successful throughout the whole Parliament, including during the presidency of Josep Borrell.
Mr Pöttering said Parliament's legislative successes included “the successful integration of the members from the new member states” and “the adaptation of our parliamentary work to a larger and more diverse European Parliament”. He said Parliament had gained a great deal of experience and had grown stronger and richer at the cultural level. He explained that all efforts had been aimed at preserving the dignity of the institution. Among results achieved during the legislative term of office, he included the services directive, the REACH regulation, financial resources for youth programmes such as Erasmus, the fight against climate change, and reform of financial markets (a request put forward by the Parliament since 2002, he said). The new Parliament, he added, should continue along this road, calling on it to also promote the social market economy to find solutions to the crisis, while strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy. It will also be necessary to pull together for the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in January and to “play our role” for supporting the Middle East peace process and the two-state solution, he said, while recommending the constitution of a new working group on the Middle East.
Hans-Gert Pöttering thanked his colleagues, and especially Spanish Socialist Miguel Angel Martinez, for their support for the idea of creating a House of European History. He promised to ensure the project becomes reality by 2014. After calling on citizens to take part in the European elections, he thanked his colleagues for having worked with him to bring about European unity.
Speaking after the long standing ovation that followed Mr Pöttering's speech, the French president of the EPP-EDD Group told Mr Pöttering: “This Parliament has a heart and a soul (…) which you have embodied”. Joseph Daul also pointed out that “our collective work has a meaning: the general interest of Europeans”. He went on to cite the legislation on toys, consumer protection and research into rare diseases. “You have carried out your duties in a dignified manner”, German Social Democrat Martin Schulz said. Praising the “excellent work” done by Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, British Liberal Democrat member Graham Watson, who has not hidden his ambition to follow in his shoes, said: “You have earned our respect and our affection”. The same praises were sung by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN, Italy), who thanked him for his commitment. While underlining the positive elements of this term of presidency (she cited the cultural initiative, the statute of assistants, the climate change dossier), Monica Frassoni (Greens, Italy) bemoaned the fact that Parliament reform ended in more centralisation of power within the institution. Francis Wurtz, French President of the GUE/NGL Group, said: “You have borne your responsibilities with honour (…) As president of a minority group, I felt at ease under your presidency (…). We have worked side by side for 30 years. (…) I appreciate your personal ethics which have allowed you to acknowledge it is possible to be communist, European, democrat and humanist”.
Hans-Gert Pöttering seized the opportunity to stress that, with Francis Wurtz, there are another three MEPs present since 1979 - Ingo Friedrich, Klaus Hänsch, and Karl von Wogau of Germany - who are leaving Parliament at the end of this tenure. He thanked them for the “depth of their commitment”. His thanks were followed by another standing ovation.
Nigel Farage (UKIP) distanced himself from his colleagues. He said Mr Pöttering's presidency was detrimental to those who are opposed to the Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty. He accused the Parliament's president as well as Messrs Watson, Titley, Cohn-Bendit and Schulz, of flouting democracy. President Pöttering's reply to this was: “The very fact that you are able to make this speech proves that this Parliament is democratic”.
Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström passed on to President Pöttering the European Commission's congratulations for his presidency and for his 30 years of presence at the European Parliament. (O.J./transl.jl)