Speech by President Donald Tusk at the event marking the 40th anniversary of European People Party (EPP)

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details SPEECH/299/16 (30.05.16)
Publication Date 30/05/2016
Content Type

Text of a speech by President of the European Council Donald Tusk at the event marking the 40th anniversary of European People Party (EPP) on 30 May 2016.

He said 'Obsessed with the idea of instant and total integration, we failed to notice that ordinary people, the citizens of Europe do not share our Euro-enthusiasm. Disillusioned with the great visions of the future, they demand that we cope with the present reality better than we have been doing until now. Today, Euro-scepticism, or even Euro-pessimism have become an alternative to those illusions. And increasingly louder are those who question the very principle of a united Europe. The spectre of a break-up is haunting Europe and a vision of a federation doesn't seem to me like the best answer to it. We need to understand the necessity of the historical moment. As the President of the European Council I want to start an honest and open debate on the subject. The sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome provides a good background for such a debate'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/05/30-pec-speech-epp/
Related Links
European Commission: DG COmmunication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/1987, 30.05.16: Speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker at the celebration of 40 years of the European People's Party http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-1987_en.htm
The Telegraph, 02.06.16: Tusk blames 'utopian' EU elites for Eurosceptic revolt and Brexit crisis http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/31/tusk-blames-utopian-eu-elites-for-eurosceptic-revolt-and-brexit/
EPP: Press Release, 31.05.16: Adapting the European social model a priority at the EPP Political Assembly http://www.epp.eu/press-releases/adapting-the-european-social-model-a-priority-at-the-epp-political-assembly/
BBC News 02.06.16: Abandon 'utopian dreams', says EU head http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36429331
Politico, 30.05.16: Donald Tusk calls on EPP to fight ‘radical and brutal’ populism http://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-calls-on-epp-to-fight-radical-and-brutal-populism/
The Guardian, 05.06.16: [Editorial]: The Guardian view on Europe’s future: British scepticism must be in the mix http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/05/the-guardian-view-on-europes-future-british-scepticism-must-be-in-the-mix
Politico, 13.06.16: Donald Tusk wants to bury the European Dream http://www.politico.eu/article/european-council-president-donald-tusk-buries-the-european-dream/
BBC News, 13.06.16: Donald Tusk: Brexit could destroy Western political civilisation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36515680

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