Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome

In his autobiography, Martens offers the inside story of running a complex country like Belgium, fighting for European unification, and transforming the European People's Party into a united centre-right movement and leading European political family.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Wilfried Martens is one of the most distinguished politicians to come from Belgium in the last ffty years. In his long poli- cal career, he has always fought for the implementation of his goals with passion and deep conviction. What has to be mentioned frst in this context is his s- cessful advocacy of federalism in his home country, Belgium. Already in his time as chair of the CVP youth league from 1967 to 1972, groundbreaking manifestos on Belgium's federali- tion were written under his auspices. Later on, as President of the CVP, he succeeded in negotiating the Egmont Pact, whose essential elements form part of today's federal Belgian C- stitution. He served as Prime Minister for more than a decade, and in this role he convinced the regions and linguistic groups of his country, which were often at odds with each other, of the necessity for cooperation and solidarity.

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Klappentext

Wilfried Martens - Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome Foreword by Angela Merkel

Wilfried Martens has devoted his entire life to politics: as student leader, youth activist, President of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Prime Minister of Belgium, President of the European People's Party and European statesman. In his autobiography Martens offers the inside story on running a complex country like Belgium, fighting for European integration and unification, and transforming the European People's Party into a strong, united centre-right movement and leading European political family. Above all, this is book about the intricacies of European politics and its guiding ideas, values and principles.

The processing of the manuscript was concluded in 2008.

Inhalt
Looking Back on My Life.- Conviction and Responsibility.- In Charge of a Restless State.- Small Country, Large Responsibilities.- My Road Towards Maastricht.- O Hellenic Shore Where Our Fathers Dwell .- The Fall of Santer.- A Cordon Sanitaire Around Austria.- He Did Not Take the Fruit of Those Who Had Planted the Tree .- Pushing Forward in Europe and Beyond.