at the
European Court of Auditors Hemicycle, Luxembourg-Kirchberg
The
Fondation du Mérite Européen (FME) organised this
special conference for the new Association of
Medallists (those who have received Gold, Silver and
Bronze).
This Association has been formed in order to
promote further European ideas through the talents of
these recipients.
This launching ceremony was held with
the support of Representatives from the European
Commission and the European Court of Auditors in
Luxembourg.
In his opening speech, Jacques Santer,
President of the Fondation, warmly
welcomed everyone representing all those
promoting European integration to our new association.
In
a video message, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of
the European Commission, spoke about the multitude of
crises that currently haunt the European Union; noting
that Europe can not accommodate all the misery of the
world nor that it is a citadel under siege. He nonetheless expressed confidence that
the actions, currently being taken to find solutions,
will bear fruit in the medium term.
Whilst
welcoming the creation of the Association, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, honorary
president of the Fondation, made assurances, also in a video message,
that the Luxembourg government will support our efforts to promote Europe.
A round table, hosted by MEP Frank Engel,
discussed problems relating to
migration and refugees. The various members of the panel - the
Belgian Minister of State Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, MEP
Charles Goerens, Alex Brenninkmeijer, the Dutch member
of the European Court of Auditors, and Aindrias Ó Caoimh,
former Irish judge at the Court of Justice of the
European Union - noted in particular that the European
Union lacks foreign policy and common security,
that the relationship between the political system and
its citizens is poor, that, at the conclusion of the Schengen agreement,
there was a huge wave of migration which was not anticipated and that several member
countries do not have the political will to tackle this
problem with any specific solution.
Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb
Charles Goerens
Alex Brenninkmeijer
Aindrias Ó Caoimh
This
event took place, by kind permission of the
European Court of Auditors, at their hemicycle.