European Parliamentary Union
Encyclopedia
The European Parliamentary Union (EPU) was a private organization set up by Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who was also its Secretary General.
It held its preliminary conference on 4-5 July 1947 at Gstaad
, Switzerland
, and followed it with its first full conference from 8 to 12 September.
Kalergi’s aim was to draft a European Constitution. The EPU asked some 4000 members of Parliament of 13 European countries to decide for or against a European Federation in the framework of the United Nations. The project was criticized by Denis de Rougemont
and Duncan Sandys
, son-in-law of Winston Churchill
, founder of the European Movement
, who advocated a model based on an intergovernmental co-operation without any loss of national sovereignty.
The EPU played a prominent role in the Congress of the Hague, 7-10 May 1948.
The second EPU Congress was held from 1 to 5 September 1948 in Interlaken
, Switzerland.
On 20 September 1949, the EPU met for the third time in Venice and voted a resolution in favour of greater European political integration and an extension of the powers of the Consultative Assembly
of the Council of Europe
, which had just been established. In 1949, the British MP Kim Mackay
became chair of the EPU.
The creation of the Council of Europe resulted in a loss of influence for the EPU, since European parliaments now had their own intergovernmental forum in Strasbourg
.
On 18 May 1950, Kalergi was the first person to be awarded the International Charlemagne Prize
of the City of Aachen
. In 19.-20 June 1950, Rheinfelden
, Switzerland, the EPU organised a Conference of German and French Parliamentarians
.
Shortly afterwards, the EPU was merged with the European Movement
.
Kalergi was elected honorary president of the European Movement in 1952..
It held its preliminary conference on 4-5 July 1947 at Gstaad
Gstaad
Gstaad is a village in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Berne in southwestern Switzerland. Part of the municipality of Saanen, Gstaad is known as one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and followed it with its first full conference from 8 to 12 September.
Kalergi’s aim was to draft a European Constitution. The EPU asked some 4000 members of Parliament of 13 European countries to decide for or against a European Federation in the framework of the United Nations. The project was criticized by Denis de Rougemont
Denis de Rougemont
Denis de Rougemont was a Swiss writer, who wrote in French.He studied at the University of Neuchâtel, and then moved to Paris in 1930. There he wrote for and edited various publications, associating with the personalist groupings and the non-conformists of the 1930s...
and Duncan Sandys
Duncan Sandys
Edwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys CH PC was a British politician and a minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s...
, son-in-law of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, founder of the European Movement
European Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
, who advocated a model based on an intergovernmental co-operation without any loss of national sovereignty.
The EPU played a prominent role in the Congress of the Hague, 7-10 May 1948.
The second EPU Congress was held from 1 to 5 September 1948 in Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
, Switzerland.
On 20 September 1949, the EPU met for the third time in Venice and voted a resolution in favour of greater European political integration and an extension of the powers of the Consultative Assembly
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, which had just been established. In 1949, the British MP Kim Mackay
Kim Mackay
Ronald William Gordon Mackay , known as Kim Mackay, was a British Common Wealth Party and Labour Party politician known for his federalist views....
became chair of the EPU.
The creation of the Council of Europe resulted in a loss of influence for the EPU, since European parliaments now had their own intergovernmental forum in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
On 18 May 1950, Kalergi was the first person to be awarded the International Charlemagne Prize
Karlspreis
- See also :*Charlemagne*European integration*Leipzig Human Rights Award, originally called the "Alternative Charlemagne Award", formed in opposition to Clinton's recognition with the award- External links :* http://www.karlspreis.de/ *...
of the City of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
. In 19.-20 June 1950, Rheinfelden
Rheinfelden
Rheinfelden is a municipality in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, seat of the district of Rheinfelden. It is located 15 kilometres east of Basel. The name means the fields of the Rhine, as the town is located on the Hochrhein. It is home to Feldschlösschen, the most popular beer in...
, Switzerland, the EPU organised a Conference of German and French Parliamentarians
.
Shortly afterwards, the EPU was merged with the European Movement
European Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
.
Kalergi was elected honorary president of the European Movement in 1952..