The members of the European Parliament were directly elected for the first time. The parliament held its first session in Strasbourg on 17 July 1979. Louise Weiss as the "oldest member" presided over the chamber. Simone Veil was elected president.

The Decision and Act on European elections by direct universal suffrage were signed in Brussels on 20 September 1976. Following ratification by all Member States, the Act entered into force on July 1978, and the first elections took place on 7 and 10 June 1979.

Louise Weiss was a journalist and politician. She co-founded the journal “L’Europe Nouvelle” later she created a movement advocating women’s suffrage in France. She became the oldest member of the European Parliament in 1979.

Already a renowned politician in France, where she became minister for health in 1974, Veil was elected member of the European Parliament at the first direct elections in 1979. The new Parliament elected her as its president for a period of two-and-a-half years. She thus became the first president of the directly-elected European Parliament and the first woman president of any EU institution.

40 years ago - First session of the directly elected European Parliament

Pieter DANKERT, Enrico VINCI and Louise WEISS

Election of EP President DANKERT

Louise WEISS, Pieter DANKERT, Simone VEIL

Former EP Presidents Louise WEISS, Pieter DANKERT and Simone VEIL in 1982

Statue - Bust of the former MEP Louise WEISS at the European Parliament of Strasbourg in July 2000.

Sculpture of Louise WEISS

The MEP Louise WEISS during a session in Strasbourg in March 1980.

Meeting september 1979.Boulevard de l'Empereur Bruxelles

Plenary session in Strasbourg in july 1979 - Election of Simone VEIL as President of the Parliament

Plenary session in Strasbourg in july 1979.First session of the directly-elected European ParliamentElection of Simone VEIL as President of the Parliament

Here is an abstract from Louise Weiss' speech delivered in the European Parliament in 1979. Born in 1893, Louise Weiss was a peace activist, writer and film-maker, as well as a prominent journalist on European affairs and a champion of women’s rights. The year 1979 was pivotal for the European Parliament: it was no longer Member States, but citizens, who chose their representatives. On 17 July 1979, the first directly-elected European Parliament – as we know it today – held its inaugural session. It was chaired by its eldest member, Louise Weiss.

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe: Louise Weiss (1979)

This video recalls the history of Louise Weiss: a committed European.

WEISS, Louise (DEP, FR)

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