Appeal of the EMI on the nomination of the President of the European Council

7.03.00pm GMT Thu 29th Oct 2009

The European Movement International (EMI) has sent an appeal to the members of the European Council asking them to consider the importance of the Charter of Fundamental Rights when appointing the President of the European Council. The text follows -

"The European Movement International ( EMI ), founded in 1948 to contribute to the establishment of a united, federal Europe, based on the principles of peace, democracy, liberty, solidarity, and the respect for basic human rights, appeals to the members of the European Council to consider the importance of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union when selecting the President of the European Council.

"The Charter has been signed and solemnly proclaimed by the Presidents of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council, and is largely supported by an overwhelming majority of the EU citizens.

"The EMI considers that the future President of the European Council must be a true European, able to represent the idea of a strong and united Europe and to commit to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and its legal binding status as one of the EU's most important achievements.

"The nomination of someone who doesn't fulfill these criteria would be in clear opposition to the will expressed by the overwhelming majority of the EU Member States, which ratified the Treaty of Lisbon without any "opt out" clauses.

"Now, more than ever, the EU needs to stand united and, for that to happen, the European Council needs a President who is able to fully represent the Union's past achievements and inspire ever new ones."

******************************************************************************************