EFA representatives meet President Van Rompuy

President of the European Free Alliance (EFA), Ms. Nelly Maes and MEP Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru), President of the EFA Group in the European Parliament, will be meeting the President of the European Council, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy this Thursday 4 March. 

In the one hour meeting with Mr. Van Rompuy, Ms. Nelly Maes and MEP Jill Evans will discuss issues such as the right to self-determination, linguistic diversity and the peace process in the Basque Country.

This will be the first meeting of EFA representatives with the new President of the European Council.

Nelly Maes said:

"This meeting will give us an opportunity to put some of the most important issues of EFA policy on the agenda of the EU. We do not often have the opportunity to speak about these issues at such a high level. Therefore, we will try to show to Mr. Van Rompuy that what we stand for, and the topics we will be discussing are of vital importance if a democratic, progressive and fair Europe is to be built."

EFA Parliamentary Group President and Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans said:

"The new permanent President of the European Council will be an increasingly influential figure in European politics. It is vital that we as democratically elected representatives have a positive and direct working relationship with Mr Van Rompuy to ensure he understands the importance of stateless nations within the European Union and their role in overcoming the economic and climate crisis. There are referenda on constitutional changes being held in Wales, Scotland, Catalonia and elsewhere. The EU has to be able to respond to a changing situation."