Graham Watson - Liberal Democrat MEP for South-West England and Gibraltar

Europe's Constitution: Liberal Democrat Group leader appeals to French sense of history

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th May 2005

Graham Watson today (leader of the Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament) took the opportunity of Schuman Day to appeal to French sense of history and their central role in creating the European Union by making a personal appeal ahead of the referendum at the end of the month.

"The European Community was launched 55 years ago today by a Frenchman, Robert Schuman, on the 5th anniversary of the end of the Second World War," recalled Watson

"It would be a great irony of history and unthinkable to Schuman's generation if those same ideals were also to be rejected by French men and women in the referendum on May 29th. The European Constitution is to today what the European Coal and Steel Community was to the French and Germans in 1950 - a hope for a better future in shared ideals, common objectives and pooled resources."

As Schuman himself said in prefacing his famous Declaration of 1950 "It is not a matter of mere words, but a constructive act of great audacity. France has acted and the consequences of its action can be immense."

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: More Liberal Democrats in Westminster will mean more constructive relationship with Brussels (Fri 6th May 2005).
Next news story: EU-Russia relations: complex, but necessary (Thu 12th May 2005).

Related News Stories:

Fri 13th Apr 2007:

Liberal and Democrat group leader in European Parliament demands immediate release of MEP .

Thu 15th Mar 2007:

Greening the Parliament. Liberal Democrat group leader demands that EP reform agenda reduce carbon footprint .

Thu 1st Mar 2007:

Reviewing Europe's visa policy can help Europe's image.

Tue 16th Jan 2007:

Liberal Democrat group leader congratulates new EP President but calls for a reform agenda .

Thu 19th Oct 2006:

European Liberal Democrat Leader tells Putin what everyone else is thinking .

Tue 13th Jun 2006:

Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson demands a better deal for Gibraltar.

Mon 12th Jun 2006:

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Graham Watson calls for closure of Guantanamo Bay .

Wed 3rd May 2006:

European Liberal Group leader clarifies position on use of Catalan in European Parliament.

Tue 2nd May 2006:

Liberal Democrat group leader backs full rights for ALL EU citizens .

Tue 13th Dec 2005:

Liberal Democrat Group Leader in EP congratulates his predecessor.

Fri 10th Jun 2005:

European Liberal Democrat Leader Challenges Tony Blair to Democratise the EU.

Wed 12th Jan 2005:

Liberals & Democrats the most European group in Parliament 98% of ALDE members voted in favour of the Constitution today.

Thu 2nd Dec 2004:

ALDE relieved by the "Yes" vote of the French Socialist Party on the European Constitution.

Related Speeches:

Wed 29th Nov 2006:

Speech on re-election as Leader of ALDE Group.

Wed 10th Nov 2004:

Speech by ALDE Group Leader Graham Watson MEP to the CALD Parliamentary Conference .

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by Graham Watson MEP, Bagehot's Foundry, Beards Yard, Langport, Somerset TA10 9PS.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.