2023 FMA annual events 3-4 May

MEPs at work : Experience for the future ! 

Hybrid Librorum – Roundtable discussion

On 3 May from 15.30 to 17.00 at the European Parliament Library’s Reading Room (SPINELLI 05D) the EP Former Members’ Association (FMA) and the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) co-organise a Librorum – Roundtable discussion concerning the biography of the former FMA President and former EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering entitled “A European Conscience”, which tell us about his life.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, in the words of Donald Tusk, “dedicated his entire political life to the project of European unification”. A Christian Democrat from Germany, he was first elected to the European Parliament in 1979, going on to lead the powerful European People’s Party political group in the Parliament and then serve as the institution’s President in 2007-2009. He retired from the European Parliament in 2014 and served as FMA President from 2018 to 2022.

Klaus Hänsch, FMA President and former EP President will welcome the audience at the Roundtable, opened by Othmar Karas, the First Vice-President of the European Parliament. Monica Baldi, FMA Vice-President will provide a presentation of the book and of President Pöttering followed by a  Roundtable discussion and a Q&A session moderated by Michael Hindley, FMA Board Member. Fabienne Keller, EP Quaestor responsible for the FMA, will conclude the event.

Many former MEPs and guests will be present at this event as well as the former President of the EP and of the FMA Enrique Baròn Crespo.

A limited number of copies of the book will be available at the venue, the Parliament’s Library Reading Room. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English and French. The event will be streamed live via this link on the FMA YouTube channel (in English only).

 

Annual Memorial Service

On 3 May 2023 from 17.45 to 18.15, the Fourteenth Annual Memorial Service for deceased former Members of the European Parliament will take place, organised by the FMA under the patronage of the European Parliament. Current and former members of the European Parliament, current and former EP officials will commemorate former MEPs who passed away in 2022-2023. The programme includes an homage to the Former FMA and EP President José Maria Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado who passed away this year, delivered by FMA President Klaus Hänsch. The service will be held in presence in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels with interpretation in English, French, Spanish, German and Italian. It will be broadcasted live on the FMA webpage in the five languages too. You can find the booklet of the event with contributions of former colleagues and a list of deceased former MEPs who will be commemorated at the 2023 Memorial Service on the FMA website.

Many former MEPs will be present at this event as well as the former Presidents of the EP Enrique Baròn Crespo, Pat Cox, Klaus Hänsch and the First Vice-President of the EP Othmar Karas.

 

 

Dinner Debate

After the Memorial Service, on 3 May 2023, the FMA Management Committee organises a Cocktail Reception followed by a Dinner Debate in the Members’ Restaurant of the European Parliament. The event will be chaired by FMA President Klaus Hänsch. Guest Speaker Mr Paolo Gentiloni, EU Commissioner for Economy will give a speech entitled “Years of change: Europe after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine” followed by an exchange of views with FMA members. The audience will be a mix of former MEPs, MEPs and guests. This event is open only to FMA members and guests.

 

Annual General Assembly and Management Committee meeting

On 4 May 2023, the FMA 22st Annual General Assembly will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels. Once per year, members gather to sum up an intense year of work, to discuss the current activities of the Association and submit their proposals. A new FMA Management Committee will be elected and will meet in the afternoon.