COUNCIL OF Leipzig, 3 June 2008 THE EUROPEAN UNION S190/08 Laudatio by EU High Representative Javier SOLANA at the occasion of the honorary doctorate for Dr Angela MERKEL University of Leipzig - 3 June 2008 Excellencies, Rector Häuser, Prime Minister Tillich, Dear friends, Liebe Angela, It is always a special occasion when someone's alma mater decides to award an honorary doctorate to a former student. It is perhaps more special when that person is the current Chancellor of Germany and the degree in question is physics, rather than law, political science or economics, as you might expect with a leading politician. But it's a truly special and moving occasion when the person in question had been advised by the University, after she had completed her degree, not to pursue her doctorate there. Ladies and Gentlemen, We are about to complete what started so many years ago. This makes today's event all the more poignant. When this great University of Leipzig asked me to introduce Angela Merkel at this special occasion, it was one of the easiest decisions I have had to make. There are few people in the European political landscape I admire more than Angela Merkel - for her analytical disposition, her inclusive political style and, above all, her sense of judgement. Perhaps it matters that we have both been trained as physicists and ended up in politics. We know that both physics and politics are about interaction; and that analysing elements in isolation is not enough. Perhaps it also matters that we both grew up when our countries were under authoritarian political rule; and that we both feel a particular commitment to the cause of European integration. FOR FURTHER DETAILS: Spokesperson of the Secretary General, High Representative for CFSP +32 (0)2 281 6467 / 5150 / 5151 / 8239 +32 (0)2 281 5694 internet: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/solana e-mail: [email protected] One of the striking things about Angela Merkel's careers is that she has excelled in different areas, breaking barriers along the way. The road she has travelled has been the road less travelled. Following that path, she made enormous contributions to the world of science and the world of politics, to Germany and to Europe. Let me recall some of the key points she passed along that road. Studying physics in 1973 at Leipzig's then Karl Marx University was highly prestigious. Leipzig was a German university town full of tradition and the physics faculty was famous. Angela, You yourself have stated that you both loved and hated physics but at any rate wanted to understand Einstein. Finally you decided to study physics, rather than pursue other interests like languages, especially English and Russian. But I have to say that your linguistic proficiency was certainly helpful during the German Presidency of the European Union in 2007 when you negotiated with President Putin and President Bush at the EU-Russia and EU-US summits, in their own mother tongues! As is true for many, your university years were a time of study and personal development. You pursued your interests in literature, art and science, reading broadly: classics as well as Sakharov or Popper. I understand you had a special liking for the dissident author Rainer Kunze, whom you had met at Castle Mansfeld at a seminar organised by the Protestant student community and who had to leave the GDR in 1977. Those who met you during your student years in Leipzig - like those who meet you now - underline your charm, competence and strong personality, which inspires sympathy and trust. You have said that you believe yourself to be courageous in decisive moments. But, being an intellectual person, you try to think through a decision beforehand. That is certainly a good thing to do in both science and politics. In 1978 you left Leipzig after obtaining your diploma here. You joined the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof. You focused on quantum chemistry and, in 1986, acquired your PhD. Three years later, in 1989, political events changed the make-up of Europe. They certainly changed the life of Angela Merkel. And we all know that the people of Leipzig played a prominent role in bringing about these changes for the GDR. Her political career developed at high speed and included many "firsts". She became the first female chair of the CDU, the first woman to ever lead one the major German "peoples parties". And eventually the first woman to ever assume the position of Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In this role of Chancellor, there have been many occasions in which she applied her qualities to the great benefit of Germany and Europe alike. 2 Let me try to explain. Of course the process of European integration is, by definition, a collective effort. But it is fair to say that from the beginning Germany has played a central and, at times, decisive role. The single market, Schengen, the euro and successive enlargements. None would have been possible without German ideas and leadership. Germany is a country that stabilises the system; that builds bridges among contending visions for Europe; that injects new momentum when things are stuck. My main point is this: Chancellor Angela Merkel embodies that special German role and responsibility for the European integration process. Shortly after taking office, your constructive mediating role at the December 2005 European Council was essential for the EU to be able to agree on a new budget for the period 2007-2013. The German Presidency in the first half of 2007 that you led was one of the most successful presidencies the EU has ever had and I have considerable experience since, in different capacities, I have lived through over 30 presidencies. The results of your personal commitment include the agreements on ambitious climate change objectives, reached at the March European Council. And the Berlin Declaration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Of course, the crowning achievement of the German Presidency was the agreement reached at the June European Council on the outlines of what later became the Lisbon Treaty. This was a personal triumph. It would not have been possible without your efforts. As a result, Europe is now well on track towards becoming a more effective, efficient and democratic Union, fit to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. As Albert Einstein rightly said: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity". You saw that opportunity when few others did. Or perhaps they saw opportunities but did not know how to translate these into practical proposals. Or they lacked the political skill, perseverance and human warmth to turn general proposals into precise political agreements. You managed to do all three. It is for these reasons that I am so pleased that the city of Aachen decided to give you the Karlspreis earlier this year. As you rightly said in your speech: "After centuries of violent confrontations, we have achieved in Europe what is barely thinkable: we are living together in peace and friendship. Why should it not be possible for this to be achieved in other regions of the world? For me this is no utopia." Ladies and Gentlemen, liebe Angela: Die heutige Ehrung ist mehr als verdient. ______________ 3 .