Inaugurating the Simone Veil building in Strasbourg with the Prime Minister of France Élisabeth Borne, the President of the European Parliament honoured Simone Veil's legacy and her contribution to the European project.
Thank you, Prime Minister, President of the Grand Est Regional Council, President of the European Collectivity of Alsace, President of Eurométropole, Mayor, Members, Commissioner, Minister,
‘During the deportation, I reflected that, if one day we came out of the camp alive, we should not think about exacting further revenge on the Germans but should seek reconciliation.’
Simone Veil, French patriot and European pioneer, was a witness to and victim of the darkest chapter in European history, the Shoah, but she believed in humanity and reconciliation between peoples.
She was firmly convinced that it was possible to learn from the disasters of the past and build a better future for Europe.
Simone Veil would become the first President of a European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage, the first woman to preside over a European institution. Throughout her term of office, she would strive to transform the European Parliament into a genuine political actor enjoying popular legitimacy.
Her actions have left their mark on France; but she has also had an indelible impact on European integration. Because of her life story and legacy, Simone Veil, immortalised as a member of the Académie Française, has come to embody, with others, the political endeavour that drives us on. She is a role model for so many of us.
If I have become the youngest President in the history of the European Parliament, it is thanks to the battles Simone Veil fought. As such, I am alive to my responsibility towards her, towards all the women who will come after me, and towards our European endeavour.
Friends,
Acquiring the Simone Veil building symbolises the deep commitment of the European Parliament to its seat in Strasbourg – city of peace, of human rights and of European democratic life. Strasbourg is, as I emphasised in my inaugural speech, a democratic imperative.
Because our presence in this city, in Alsace, geographically reflects the separation of powers within the European Union, making our assembly a flesh-and-blood institution, near at hand and within reach, at the service of citizens.
There are symbols. And then there are actions. This building demonstrates our ambitions for our seat to grow.
Acquiring this new building will help put into practice the overall approach, adopted by Parliament’s Bureau on 6 July 2022, for optimising the use of its seat in Strasbourg.
It will allow us to meet our needs for additional space and to support expansion of our parliamentary activities here in Strasbourg. The Simone Veil building will eventually be occupied by almost seven hundred people and be used exclusively by Parliament’s Secretariat.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This project has not been without its difficulties; but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
In this connection, I very much want to pay tribute to my ‘comrades-in-arms’, our Vice-Presidents Rainer Wieland and Dita Charanzová, as well as our Quaestors Anne Sander and Fabienne Keller, who have been fully committed to making this project a success.
The project also owes a great deal to the determination of the local and regional authorities represented here today. Thanks go in particular to Frédéric Bierry for having kept the faith at all times. Thanks also go to Roland Ries, former Mayor of Strasbourg, for both his boldness and his vision in proposing such a project.
Lastly, the project has also come to fruition thanks to the excellent cooperation between the European Parliament and the French authorities. Your government’s unwavering commitment, Prime Minister, side by side with our institution, has at no time been found wanting.
You can also rest assured of my commitment and that of the European Parliament to further advancing what is already close cooperation between France and our institution.
Thank you.