With the first Trauerakt its history, the European Union pays homage to the former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The funeral service marks a historic Moment of self-assurance, says Ines Pohl.
Time life, Helmut Kohl, had a great sense for the right Moment. It was his instinct, and his unwillingness to compromise, which ended the division of Germany and thus paved the way for the European Union, as we know it now. He recognized a historic opportunity, and as such, to grip and not let go of his projects. Therefore, regardless of losses, also in the personal environment.
Thus, the former Chancellor of Germany, has not only made friends. But with these qualities, he has created the Foundation for this house of Europe that is not in good condition. In the burgeoning nationalism of the member countries of the usefulness of the EU in question. The British have already decided to leave the United States are among Donald Trump is anything but a reliable Alliance partner.
Ines Pohl, DW editor-in-chief
EU flag as a Symbol
Into the midst of this new uncertainty, the funeral of Helmut Kohl is now. Heads of state and government from all over the world have traveled in the Parliament hall in Strasbourg, to take with the first European Trauerakt at all farewell to one of THE founding fathers of the European Union. The Spanish Royal house is represented, many long-time political allies. From the East, the South, the North and the West. In the centre of the coffin, Helmut Kohl – at his request, not by the Germans but by the EU-flag covered.
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The words of EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker touch. Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, and other worthy Kohl’s merits rather technocratic. In the end, Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked in a personal speech, Helmut Kohl, that you can stand here today in a free Europe.
Clinton brings Decisive on the point
And yet it is Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States that leads the eyes of all of what’s happening right now. That Helmut Kohl writes again history. Now, in this Moment. In this Phase, which is so dangerous for Kohl’s work life, the United Europe.
Bill Clinton speaks of the finiteness of the life, legacy, and responsibility. In Strasbourg, over the coffin of Helmut Kohl, he is suddenly there again, in the spirit of the European Union who is entitled to make in respect a to each other, in a war on European soil must never be allowed to happen again.
Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, who leads the negotiations on Brexit, suddenly loses the Threatening, you will be the exotic fruit, which has nothing to do here.
Helmut Kohl is once again alive. The farewell will take you to an act of self-assurance in the a lot of departure. A force that Europe needs. A historic Moment, the Helmut Kohl would have liked.