European Parliament president's end of term statement warns against division

Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, delivered his end of term statement on Wednesday to the plenary assembly here, warning against existential threats to the European Union (EU) posed by division and promising to continue fighting them in the future.

In an address more emotional than usual, Schulz reminded Members of European Parliament (MEPs) of the objectives he set forth in July 2012: "Five years ago, when I was elected as president of the European Parliament, I said that it would be my goal to make the European Parliament more prominent, more visible and more influential."

"I can say that today we have achieved that," Schulz said. "Over the last few years together we have succeeded in making the European Parliament the arena for European democracy," he insisted. "It's here in this chamber that the important debates take place, it's here that the important decisions are made that improve the lives of people and make their lives safer."

The German social democrat, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 1994, and later served as leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats from 2004 until his election to the presidency in 2012, still warned against threats to the "transnational democracy" that he considered MEPs to have helped strengthen.

"Everywhere on this continent we see the dividers and the ultra-nationalists working and spreading, and they are inciting people one against the other," he warned, adding "these people are actually endangering some of the major societal achievements that we've had on this continent."

The president, who announced in November that he would step down in order to compete in national elections for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, and who is considered to be a strong challenger to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, promised to continue his efforts for the European cause in the future.

"I will use all of my strength to fight against this hatred in the future, regardless of what post or office I will occupy," Martin Schulz said. "Because it's our duty to work against these destructive tendencies, whatever office we occupy or job we do."

He admitted that he was "obviously not an easy or a straightforward president of this parliament," but had "tried in all conscience to work on behalf of the European cause, so that the peoples and its citizens can overcome divides and gulfs so that together we can make a contribution towards a more peaceful world."

Concluding his last day overseeing a working session of the European Parliament, Schulz wished strength and confidence for his successor, while sharing his gratitude with fellow parliamentarians.

"To be president of this institution was an extraordinary honor for me, and I am very grateful for that," the president said. "So with great humility I thank you for the work we have done together over the last five years." Endit