THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
Obituary
COVID-19
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
EU vaccines strategy (Ed/nc) At the European Council of 10th11th December, EU leaders welcomed the vaccines and the common advance purchase agreements by the Commission. They highlighted the importance of preparations for the timely deployment and distribution of vaccines to ensure they are made available in good time and in a coordinated manner.
graphic: brgfx, www.freepik.com
positive announcements on COVID-19
The heads of state and government agreed to enhance the sharing of expe-
(Ed/hb) With the death of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing on 2nd December at the age of 94, the world has lost a great European. As the President of France from 1974 to 1981, he was a liberalising moderniser of his country and its society. As a convinced European, he made the European Union more democratic through the introduction of universal suffrage for elections to the European Parliament and politically more effective by creating the European Council.
riences and plans, and they underlined the need to pursue work to increase resilience in the area of health. They invited the European Commission to present a proposal for a Council recommendation on a common framework for rapid antigen tests and for the mutual recognition of test results. A coordinated approach to vaccination certificates should also be developed. The EU will promote ways to reinforce international cooperation, including through a possible international treaty on pandemics within the framework of the World Health Organization in order to better anticipate and manage potential future pandemics. Council results: https://bit.ly/3mq7HO4 EU Covid-19 response: https://bit.ly/3npCbBg
British-German relations
Prince Charles at the German Bundestag (Ed/hb) On 15th November, Prince Charles spoke of Germany and the UK’s shared values in a historical speech at the German Bundestag in Berlin on the occasion of Germany’s Day of Mourning. During his speech, he made direct reference to Brexit, saying: “The UK has chosen a future outside the European Union, and the relationship between our countries is evolving once again. Its shape is a matter negotiated between our The Prince of Wales speaking at the Bundestag on 15th governments and its essence November 2020 Photo: © Deutscher Bundestag / DBT is defined by the enduring connections between our people.” The Prince of Wales added: “It is, therefore, my heartfelt belief that the fundamental bond between us will remain strong: we will always be friends, partners and allies”. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had earlier been greeted by the President of Germany, Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender.
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photo: European Union, 2002, © christophe Lambiotte
The deep understanding that he developed with the German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, led to their joint initiative that paved the way for European monetary union and a more orderly global economy. They also promoted together the Helsinki Process (Charter 1974) which culminated in the creation, for the benefit of both East and West, of the ‘Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe’ (CSCE), a platform for human rights, democratic development and arms control. At the beginning of the new millennium he chaired the Convention on the future of the European Union, which should have led to a European constitution. Ultimately however, he was unable to overcome the resistance of some heads of government. In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Charlemagne Prize. France and Europe have lost a great citizen!
