On the occasion of his visit to the EP in Strasbourg, Frank-Walter STEINMEIER, newly-elected President of Federal Republic of Germany, addresses MEPs in a formal sitting.

Strasbourg

speech

EU - Germany (T)

STEINMEIER, Frank-Walter (DE)

formal sitting

Address by Frank-Walter STEINMEIER, President of Federal Republic of Germany: extracts from the formal sitting

SOUNDBITE (German), Frank-Walter STEINMEIER, President of Federal Republic of Germany, Europe is a complex and demanding project, however it is worth it, our rejoinder who talk Europe down, we need to remind them that cooperation, growing prosperity and above all 70 years of peace, that is the pledge Europe makes to its citizens, but never in its history has this pledge fore filled itself, it only happened when petty Nationalism has given way to European reason and has determined how the players act, that challenge we need to tackle. (Applause)

It is irresponsible to lead people to believe that dangers like terrorism or climate change which know no borders can we warded off with walls and barriers, it is irresponsible to lead people to believe that in a world that is becoming more complex, the answers are becoming simpler. And it is wrong to say in my conviction that in this world a single European country standing alone without the EU can make its voice heard, or ensure its economic interest, quite to the contrary. (Applause) Quite to the contrary if we as Europe do not become fully fledge players on the world stage then we will all individually become the play thing of other powers.

&lsquo;Take back control&rsquo; that is a strong slogan we hear everywhere, however let me say right away, Nationalists will be unable to deliver it, or if it can be delivered at all, then it is something we can make happen together if we don&rsquo;t over simplify things, if we don&rsquo;t pass the buck to Brussels, but deal with things together, if we strengthen the internal market and at the same time protect those who in the last years have borne the brunt of globalisation. If our innovative power and creativity can be beefed up so that Europe can shape and change itself and if we don&rsquo;t just passively accept change, only then can we take away the breading ground of populist and say to them we are not losing sovereignty in Europe, quite the contrary, for the first time we are gaining strength, weight in the world through it. (Applause)

Yes we want to show solidarity to countries which are experiencing the financial economic crisis and having to embark on tough reforms, but European solidarity can only support and not replace National efforts. Yes we want to help people who are fleeing war and persecution, but because our common capacity is fine end we have to decide how and how much responsibility we should carry, yes we want to preserve the European Union internally but we also know that Europe is bigger than the European Union and without including our neighbours in the East and in the South there will be no lasting peaceful order on this continent. (Applause)

However the role of my country is subject to controversy debate, some are calling for more leadership from us, others are warning against German dominance. And the freshly elected president of our most important alley recently said that the European Union is nothing more than a vehicle for Germany. I would say at the very least that this is a misunderstanding. Europe&rsquo;s strength cannot be founded on the leadership of some but solely on the responsibility of all.

We know what we owe Europe and I can say that a united Europe is the only successful answer to our history and to our geography, for us ourselves and for our neighbours. And we feel that a strong Europe is not just in our own interest but rather has become part and parcel of our very identity. You should be therefore be aware that we Germans want to keep the European Union together, we want to be part of building Europe shared future together with our partners, be they big or small, or with equal rights.

I come to learn that young people are sick and tired of the &lsquo;Nay&rsquo; Sayers, as they are the only one still talking about Europe. They don&rsquo;t want their hope and future to be stolen by populists or freighted away by lethargy, that&rsquo;s why they have gone out and demonstrated on the streets that Europe&rsquo;s pulse beats, not just in the streets and squares of Europe&rsquo;s towns and cities. Even if we don&rsquo;t talk in such terms yet , to my generation to many, their children and grandchildren, Europe long ago became a second homeland and these young people have long known that there is no contradiction inherent on the one hand loving your own country and at the same time being a good European. And Ladies and gentlemen, I think these young people are right! (Applause)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is now to us to ensure that the European dream does not fade to nothing in the next generation. (He continues in English: ) That's the message that I bring from my country: Yes, we want Europe! We want to build a better Europe, and we want to be a European Germany! (Applause)