14 May 2012
"I continue to see Europe as a success story. We must not lose the sight of the impressive achievements of European integration". This was the President's key message in his speech at the Europe Day celebration on 10 May in the Isar building, an event jointly hosted by the EPO with the representations of the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The message was fully understood and appreciated by the 400 guests attending the occasion, and echoed by the other prominent speakers. Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Energy, Angelika Niebler (MEP), and, representing the Bavarian government, Gabriele Stauner of the Bavarian State Chancellery, joined the President in paying tribute to the spirit of Europe Day, commemorating the groundbreaking proposal in 1950 by Robert Schuman to establish a "community" which, in Schuman's words, was to be "solidly united and constructed around a strong framework".
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the EU, the EPO works to promote innovation and growth in Europe, and can take pride in its own success story, stretching back over nearly 40 years and showing, as the President said, "that when Europe has the political will to pool its resources, to overcome its divergences and transform its diversity into an asset, it can build a leading position in the world."
EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger took up this point in his address and acknowledged the EPO's performance in supporting innovation and the economy in Europe.
The success of the EPO in the construction of Europe was also mentioned by Angelika Niebler in her speech; Gabriele Stauner, conveying the good wishes of Bavarian prime minister Horst Seehofer, emphasised the role of innovation in creating prosperity, and the strong position of Munich in this respect as the "patents capital" of Europe.
