Introduction
Background Links
About Us
Background Links
Where MEPs Stand
A Clear Cut Policy
A Whistleblower Speaks
About the EPP
A Done Deal Undone
Key Quotes of EPP
Policies of the EPP
Crunch Quotes

 

 

 

 

“Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.”
Margaret Thatcher


Key Quotes from the President of the EPP


This represents a small contribution, by people involved in big grassroots organisations, to an even bigger debate.




“We can’t go back to Nice. We all have to inform the voters of the content and the added value of the Constitution. We all have to convince the voters that Europe is a necessity.”
Wilfried Martens President of the EPP to the Youth EPP Congress 17 MAR 05

“I’m convinced that during the upcoming weeks you, as youngsters will certainly play a crucial and active role in campaigning. You, as young politicians are certainly the best
promoters of the Constitution as your generation grew-up with Europe and it can nowadays feel and breath European integration and implementation in your daily lives. I therefore encourage you all to participate at your national ‘yes’ campaigns and hope that we at the end can realize a global ‘yes’ for us all.”
Wilfried Martens President of the EPP to the YEPP Congress 17 MAR 05

“In order to achieve our common goals and to meet the challenges of prosperity and the proper functioning of a modern European social model, both the EU and the Member States must jointly become engaged in this process […] Europe will have no meaning unless it is both an economic and social Europe […] The challenge is to combine powerful new market forces with humanity - economic dynamism with social responsibility - in the way we organize our social security systems.” Wilfried Martens, speech of 20 JAN 05

“Nous disposons d’un texte très complet, remplaçant tous les traités actuels, une Charte des Droits fondamentaux pour les citoyens, plus de pouvoir pour le Parlement européen, un processus de prise de décisions à majorité public pour le Conseil et un ministre des
Affaires étrangères qui représentera l’Union européenne sur la scène internationale. Comme vous le savez, le Parti Populaire Européen s’est beaucoup investi ( depuis notre congrès d’Estoril : « Une Constitution pour une Europe forte ». Le Groupe PPE au sein de la Convention, présidé par Elmar Brok, et nos membres de la Présidence de la Convention – Jean- Luc Dehaene, Michel Barnier, John Bruton, Iñigo Mendez de Vigo, Alojz Peterle et Ana Palacio – ont rédigé en grande partie cette Constitution.”
Wilfried Martens, speech of 8 MAY 05 in support of a French Yes