French President Emmanuel Macron and EU leaders are expected Thursday 2 December at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, one year to the day after the death of former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to celebrate the memory of this
"great European ”
.
The ceremony, initially scheduled for the anniversary of his birth, February 2, was delayed by ten months due to the health situation.
It will therefore finally take place a year after his death from Covid-19, on December 2, 2020 at the age of 94.
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At 11 a.m., in the hemicycle of the European Parliament, the leaders of the three European institutions - the President of the Parliament David Sassoli, the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michel - will take turns speaking . Then, celebrating Franco-German friendship, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Emmanuel Macron will speak, who will close this ceremony in which the wife of the former president, Anne-Aymone Giscard d'Estaing, and her children will participate. and grandchildren. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will also attend this ceremony. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Portuguese Presidents Marcela Rebelo de Sousa, Bulgarian Roumen Radev and Slovenian Borut Pahor are also expected to attend.
One of the builders of Europe
Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1993, after his presidential mandate, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing is considered one of the builders of Europe, having worked for essential stages of its construction, such as the creation of the European Council, the election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, the premises of monetary union or even the founding of the European Space Agency, as recalled by the Élysée.
“It laid down essential milestones for the Union which we inherit today, in particular with the establishment of the European Monetary System, before the later creation of the euro zone. He never stopped calling for the defense of the European project and encouraged us to strengthen and expand it, so that it can meet the aspirations of citizens ”
, also underlined the French presidency.
From 2001, “VGE” chaired the Convention on the Future of Europe, initiating debates and reflections on the evolution of the Union.
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Valéry Giscard d'Estaing having
"participated in the liberation of Alsace, which he crossed in a tank with the 1st army of General de Lattre de Tassigny"
, it is
"also for that that it is important that the European tribute takes place in Strasbourg and not in Brussels ”
,
his son Louis
explained to
Latest News from Alsace
(DNA), recalling that the former president
“ was very attached to maintaining the European Parliament in Strasbourg ”
.
Less than a month from the start of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, Emmanuel Macron, who will be accompanied by his wife, will take advantage of this visit to meet, at the end of the ceremony, the leaders of the political groups of the European Parliament, in order to discuss its priorities for this semester of the rotating presidency.
Also five months before the presidential election, the Head of State intends to make this French presidency a moment to promote Europe and accelerate the decisions of the 27 on several subjects, such as migration policy, carbon taxation. at European borders or even the introduction of a minimum wage throughout the EU, when six countries do not have one.
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The tribute to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing at the European Parliament will be followed by a mass, open to the public, in his memory in Strasbourg Cathedral at 3 p.m.
