Round table — ‘Pierre Werner: accounts of a European vocation’

To mark the centenary of the birth of Pierre Werner, the CVCE and its partners — the European Merit Foundation, the Pierre Werner Institute, the Cercle Pierre Werner and SES — held a round table entitled ‘Pierre Werner: accounts of a European vocation' at the Cultural Exchange Centre of the Abbaye de Neumünster on 27 November 2013.

The event began with a recorded message by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, in which he spoke of Pierre Werner's European career and the balance he was always able to achieve between his work in Europe and his commitment to his native Luxembourg. Mr Barroso also highlighted the CVCE's research on the ideas and achievements of this eminent figure who contributed to the building of a united Europe.

Introductory remarks were then made by Guy Dockendorf, Chairman of the Board of the Pierre Werner Institute, and Marianne Backes, Director of the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe. The round table was moderated by Danièle Fonck, Managing Director of Editpress and Editor-in-Chief of the Tageblatt, and included contributions from Marie-Anne and Henri Werner, Pierre Werner's son and daughter; Jacques Santer, Honorary Minister of State and former President of the European Commission; Colette Flesch, former Minister and Deputy Prime Minister; Luc Frieden, Finance Minister; Sir Brian Unwin, Honorary President of the European Investment Bank; René Steichen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SES and Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, Belgian Minister of State and President of the Pierre Werner European Circle since 2002.

The speakers exchanged their memories about the person and achievements of Pierre Werner, shedding new light on his personality, views and actions.

At the end of the round table, Claude Strasser, Managing Director of POST Luxembourg, presented the commemorative stamp featuring a portrait of Pierre Werner.

The biographical documentary ‘Pierre Werner — a European vocation', produced in connection with the research project on the European achievements of Pierre Werner, is also available for consultation.

Round table with key players and eyewitnesses ‘Pierre Werner: accounts of a European vocation'