Sunday, February 24, 2013

New German President Speaks: The European Union Needs the United Kingdom: "In Germany, more Europe doesn't mean a German Europe." English Has Become the Lingua Franca of the EU's Young People

New German President Joachim Gauck in his first speech on the European Union addressed the other countries of Europe (and the world) in a positive, upbeat tone.

Valentina Pop has the story for EUobserver.com at

Germany does not want 'diktat' on Europe

Gauck assured the countries of Europe and the world that:
"In Germany, more Europe doesn't mean a German Europe....

"Dear Englishmen, Scots, Welsh, northern Irish and Brits, we want to have you here with us....

We need your experience as a country with the oldest parliamentary democracy.

We need your traditions, your sobriety, your courage. Your intervention in the Second World War helped rescue our Europe - it is also your Europe...."
The EUObserver writes further that:
"[Gauck] noted that English has become the "lingua franca" for young people in Europe.
In what would be an irony if the UK were to go, Gauck noted that it would be almost impossible for a German to understand a Portuguese or a Latvian person unless they spoke some English in common."