2008

(from 01/01/08 to 30/06/08)

Search the Contents of Activity Report 2008:

I. EPA – A Place of Encounter
II. EPA- A Place of Conference
III. EPA – A Place of Information
IV. EPA – A Bridge linking the European Parliament, Civil Society, and the Public
V. EPA – Diverse Activities


I. APE – A Place of Encounter

1. Breakfasts for our members and their colleagues from the different EU Member States:
   - 20.02.08: Romanian MEPs, in the presence of their diplomatic representatives
   - 21.05.08: informal meeting
   - 19.06.08: presentation of Eurodistrict followed by a debate in the presence of
      . Senator Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg
      . Mr Bruno Brommer, German General Consul in Strasbourg
      . Mr Wolfgang Müller, Mayor of the City of Lahr and German Eurodistrict spokesman.
   
   
2. Regulars’ Table (“Stammtisch”): since 12/02/07, and on proposal by our Vice-President Hans-Peter Mayer, MEP, we have opened the Caveau every Monday evening of the part-session from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. and provided a buffet in a friendly atmosphere that welcomes, without any prior registration, Members of the European Parliament, their assistants and their stagiaires.
   
   
3. Football evenings:
   during the 2008 European Championship the matches that took place during the June part-session were broadcast for our members and their EP colleagues from the countries involved.
   
   - 16.06.08: Broadcast of the Poland/Croatia and Austria/Germany matches
   - 17.06.08: Broadcast of the Netherlands/Romania and France/Italy matches
   - 18.06.08: Broadcast of the Greece/Spain and Russia/Sweden matches.
   
   Around 200 people came to watch the matches.
   
   
4. Cercle Pierre Pflimlin: on 16 June 2008 we welcomed to our premises the General Assembly of the Cercle Pierre Pflimlin. This meeting discussed the various events organised to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Pierre Pflimlin, former President of the European Parliament and co-founder of our Association. Senator Louis Jung proposed that our Chairman, Mr Joseph Daul, be appointed President of the Cercle.
   
   
5. Musical evening: on 15 January 2008 a concert by the young pianist Maxim Ladid from Luxembourg was organised with the support of Mrs Christa Prets, MEP. This evening was organised by our Association in our premises to provide the opportunity for a friendly and warm meeting with our members and it was followed by a reception that was attended by the musician.
   
   
6. Slovenian Presidency: on 20 May 2008, within the framework of the Slovenian Presidency, a group of 40 Slovenian students and students from other EU countries visited the EPA as part of a visit to the European institutions in Strasbourg. An informal reception followed this meeting.
   
   
7. Inauguration of the new website: on 23 April 2008 we invited the Members of the European Parliament and senior figures from the diplomatic, political and civil sectors to celebrate the roll-out of our new website and the 25th anniversary of the EPA. The demonstration of our new site by trilingual hostesses, music and a spring buffet made for a lively evening.
   
   
8. Reception of visitors' groups invited by MEPs in liaison with the European Parliament. Priority is given to our members. Documents on the functioning of the European institutions are made available.
   

1. Conferences  in cooperation with the Institut des Hautes Etudes Européennes (IHEE) followed by receptions for the lecturers and the students:
   
   - 14.01.08: Hélène Flautre, MEP - Topic: "Respect for human rights in the EU's neighbouring countries"
   - 13.03.08: Conference by Lilly Gruber, MEP - which had to be postponed at the last moment
   
   - 24.04.08-26.04.08: Participation in the "Academic Forum on Security in Europe".
   Topic: "Deeper NATO/EU relations: A common vector of security?"
   Programme in the EPA:
    . Speeches by important figures on the "role of the European institutions in Euro-Atlantic cooperation"
         - Dr Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, President of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs
        - Dr Sorin Frunzaverde, Vice-President of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
     . Dinner for guests, figures and organisers hosted by the European Parliamentary Association.
   
   
2. Conferences organised in cooperation with European Movement of Alsace (MEA) followed by a reception:
   
   - 25.02.08:  François Loos, Member of the French Parliament, former minister
     Topic: "The research and industry challenges in Europe"
   - 22.04.08: Mrs Claude Fischer, Secretary-General of Confrontation Europe
     Topic: "Europe: the energy/climate package and the challenges for the European Union "
   - 21.05.08: Nathalie Griesbeck, MEP
     Topic: "The challenges facing the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union".

III. EPA – A Place of Information

1. The bulletin "The EPA connection" and the new informative leaflet in 3 languages on our activities and events published when our website was updated were distributed to all MEPs.
   
   
2. Our website is kept up-to-date in three languages:
   - to inform our members of the events organised for them
   - to promote European identity
   
   
3. A system was put in place to answer MEPs' questions relating to social, university and economic structures in the region.

1. "Family dinner" on 12 March and 18 June 2008
   Principle : a Strasbourg family, in partnership with the Alsace branch of the European Movement (MEA), meets an MEP and his assistant(s) for a meal. The families are multilingual and their warm welcome has been appreciated by all of the MEPs who have taken part in the experience.
   Goal: to bring the MEPs and citizens closer together.
   Future date to note: wednesday 19 november 2008.
   
   
2. Subsidy granted:
   A cheque to the value of Euro 1500 was granted to the Société des Amis des Universités de l'Académie de Strasbourg (SAUS) in recognition of the work of an outstanding student, Mélanie Schmitt, namely her thesis on social law entitled: "The collective autonomy of the social partners in the Community legal order. Contribution to the study of the principle of subsidiarity".
   
   
   
3. Visit  on 29 March 2008 to the Alsace/Moselle memorial at Schirmeck and the European Centre of Deported Resistance Members at Struthof, in which about 30 students of the Institut des Hautes Études Européennes (IHEE) participated.

1. The appeal for membership fee 2008 was sent to the all the MEPs. The subscription fee of €40 provides access to all the eventes organised by the EPA (breakfast, conferences, visits,..) and priority allocation of our premises.
   
   
2. 12.03.08: The Executive Committee and subsequently the General Assembly convened. On that occasion Albert DESS, MEP, was appointed treasurer of the EPA and took over from Martin HOLZFUSS, a former MEP, who carried out that role voluntarily for many years and to whom we express our deepest gratitude.
   

• The EPA
  • Welcome
  • Missions
  • Committee and Statutes
  • Year Book
  • Activity Reports
  • Access to the Association
  • Join the EAP
    • Membership form
• -
• Reserving Rooms
  • Virtual visit
  • Practical Information
  • Reservation form
  • History of the Building
    • Strasbourg
    • Brussels
• -
• Events and News
  • Upcoming Events
  • News
  • Photo Gallery
• -
• FAQ
• -
• Links