Speech Van Rompuy bij openingsceremonie Pools voorzitterschap (en)

EUROPEAN COUNCIL

EN

THE PRESIDENT

Warsaw, 1 July 2011 EUCO 40/11 PRESSE 224 PR PCE 15

Speech by Herman Van Rompuy i President of the European Council at the Opening Ceremony of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

It is an honour to be able to say a few words on this momentous occasion.

The first rotating Presidency of Poland is an historic event. Poland is now a Member of the Union for seven years. Over these years -- challenging and enriching years -- you have experienced how to work with 26 partners, how to contribute to agreements, how we set a common course. In the Union, the position of each is respected. Diversity is our quality; unity our strength. After thorough preparations you are now ready now to take on new responsibilities for the intense period of six months starting today, and beyond.

The rotating Presidency of the Council brings fresh impulses and qualities to the EU's work every 6 months, while keeping the long-term European interest as a common horizon. My brief experience as permanent President of the European Council has been very positive. I should like to thank in particular Hungarian Prime Minister Orban for the excellent cooperation of the last six months in preparing the work of the European Council. In politics as in life, cooperation and mutual trust are essential. My very good personal relationship with Prime Minister Tusk makes me also most confident for the period ahead.

The rotating Presidency -- and especially a grand ceremony like this evening's -- also shows citizens in a very visible way that the Union is a collective work, taken care of by 27 equal partners. The European Union is not some machinery in Brussels producing directives or redistributing funds. No, the Union is a deeply political project: it embodies the common destiny of 27 states and 500 million citizens on our continent. Together we work on concrete proposals serving the prosperity and security of our citizens, together we face the future.

In Poland you know this very well. For you, membership of the European Union was the crowning of a long struggle for sovereignty and freedom. During the difficult moments of history, your country never lost its confidence, its culture, its dignity, its own personality. The Polish people wanted to find its place back amongst the free nations of the world. So many uprisings for democracy and justice are witness to this, so many battles for freedom and solidarity. These moments defined your country. Ultimately, in 1989, they sealed the beginning of the end of the Cold War. They opened a new era for Europe as a whole. And we are all thankful for that. Since then, Poland has transformed itself into a democratic, modern and prosperous country.

For all these reasons, all other Europeans -- from Finland to Portugal and from Ireland to Cyprus -- are proud that the Polish are a member of the European family, that you bring this experience and this courage to our common adventure. And I can assure you, with all the challenges we face, both internally and externally, that chairing the EU Council will give you ample excellent opportunities to show these qualities to Europe as a whole!

That is why I want to wish the Polish Prime Minister and his government the best of luck for the upcoming six months! Together, we will work on more Europe.