After her 107th and last summit meeting: European Council pays tribute to Angela Merkel
Brussels At the EU summit in Brussels, Chancellor Angela Merkel received not only many appreciative words but also a few gifts on her departure from politics. According to diplomats, a two-minute video with summit scenes from the past 16 years was shown at a small farewell ceremony on Friday morning.
Merkel can also be seen in it with numerous heads of state and government who have not been in office for a long time, it said. For example with French President Jacques Chirac, who died in 2019, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In addition, according to the information, Merkel received a sculpture of the European building from EU Council President Charles Michel as a souvenir. This has been the headquarters of the European Council and the Council of the EU since 2017. Participants of the farewell party initially kept silent about at least one other gift.
According to the information, Michel praised Merkel almost effusively: “You are a monument,” said the Belgian. An EU summit without Merkel is like Rome without the Vatican or Paris without the Eiffel Tower.
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Their wisdom will be lacking, especially in complex times. Michel also praised Merkel’s “sobriety and simplicity”. “You are not leaving us. Your spirit and your experience will stay with us, ”said the councilor. “You are a compass and a shining light for our European project.” Then there was a standing ovation.
“Monument” Merkel – how politicians paid tribute to the Chancellor
Merkel expressed concern about the state of the European Union after her 107th and probably last EU summit. “The construction sites for my successor are big,” said the CDU politician. There are a number of unsolved problems.
Merkel mentioned the dispute over the rule of law with Poland and the issue of migration. “That is something where we are of course always vulnerable from the outside.”
She also mentioned that economic competition with countries like China has intensified in recent years. At the beginning of her term in office in 2005, the German economic power was still somewhat larger than the Chinese. Today the Chinese gross domestic product is at least four times as large as the German. Today Europe is no longer the “most innovation-friendly continent”. “We have an incredible amount to do here,” said the Chancellor.
If the SPD, the Greens and the FDP adhere to the timetable they agreed on Thursday for the coalition negotiations, Olaf Scholz will take Merkel’s place at the next EU summit on December 16 and 17.
Xavier Bettel: “Europe will miss Angela Merkel”
More: With this team of close confidants, Olaf Scholz wants to move into the Chancellery