Congress report - European Health Forum Gastein

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European Health Forum Gastein 2001
Lately, there is a lot of talk about citizens in Europe, and I want to raise the question
whether this really means that Europe's institutions are paying more attention to the citizens
– or whether it is just a panic reaction to the citizens' increasing scepticism toward this very
Europe, its officials, and its institutions.
What does such a European citizen look like?
Does he or she exist at all?
The European citizen is, indeed mentioned in the various EU treaties – themselves being too
complex to be citizen-friendly.
The European citizen enjoys a series of rights, e.g. non-discrimination toward other citizens
in other member states; free movement of labour, the right to vote and be elected to the
European Parliament – etc.
That's all very nice so far
– Question – who would call himself/herself (primarily oneself) a Euro-citizen?
The European citizen will only emerge when he or she spontaneously feel at home in all –
today still 15, soon more to come – member states and can build upon this a European
identity.
Only when Pan-European events take place in different European countries, when citizens
from all over Europe participate at the corresponding conventions in the various countries,
then citizens will feel closer and closer to Europe and will accept it as their own. Another
important requirement is that the authority to take decisions remains with the member states
and the regions. These can guarantee closeness to the citizens through their political
representatives!
In a similar manner, the European Health Forum Gastein must belong to each citizen in
Europe. We are here for them.
Seize Gastein and the Health Forum as if it were something you were entitled to as a
European. Something that belongs to you – and prove that you feel, think, and act as a
European.
Here in Gastein, we are a rather small, yet large European family.
International Forum Gastein, Tauernplatz 1, A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel.: +43 (6432) 7110-70, Fax: Ext. 71, e-mail: info@ehfg.org, website: www.ehfg.org