Diana opens up Simone Veil's archives for public viewing

9.00.00pm GMT Fri 28th Mar 2008

Diana Wallis MEP with Simone Veil

Vice President of the European Parliament Diana Wallis MEP has formally opened up the archives of former EP President Madame Simone Veil at a ceremony in Paris today. During the ceremony Ms. Wallis pointed to examples of the documents from the archives now available publicly on-line, including, surprisingly, pro-European correspondence passing between Mrs Thatcher (then British Prime Minister) and President Simone Veil.

Madame Simone Veil was the first ever President of the directly elected European Parliament, holding that office from 1979 to 1982.

Diana Wallis MEP said at the official opening, attended by Madame Veil:

"I have been pleased as Vice President responsible for transparency that our institution, the Parliament is way out in front of the others (Commission and Council) in terms of classifying and opening up its archives. There is now available on line a sample of the documents relating to the presidency of Simone Veil and some even from the years before the direct elections. All these documents provide a wealth of historical insight into the development of the Parliament and its powers."

The event took place at the European Parliament's Paris Information Office where earlier in the day both Diana Wallis and Simone Veil participated in a conference of the Role of Women in Intercultural Dialogue.

Related Links:

Access a sample of the archive.

Read Diana's speech on the opening of Parliament's archives.

Read Diana's opening speech to the conference in the Role of Women in Intercultural Dialogue.