Award ceremony of the European Book Prize 2015 in the EP in Brussels. Keynote speech by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and statements by Robert Menasse ("Un messager pour l’Europe") and Jean-Pierre Orban ("Vera")

Brussels

ceremony

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

European Book Prize (T)

keynote speech

Award ceremony of the European Book Prize 2015: Keynote speech by Martin SCHULZ, EP President

Exterior shot of the European Parliament in Brussels.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "In the last days, we have witnessed something that I would have thought impossible, when I began to work here as an MEP, to speak seriously about the possibility of a collapse of the European Union".

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "It takes courage to challenge the simplifiers, the 'misleaders' and therefore I think that the European Book Prize, also this year, is a Prize of courage, a prize that should encourage people to say, 'even if it isn't popular I will stand for this integration, to this idea that states and nations should work toghether above borders, because they know they are stronger toghether than they are alone."

SOUNDBITE (French), Erri DE LUCA, Poet, <p>"One day Europe opens its borders to refugees and then closes them again like switching on and off. Europe is mistaken, it considers the Mediterranean to be a problem".</p>

SOUNDBITE (German), Robert MENASSE, Writer and essayist, "It may surprise you if I say that I am very sad to be awarded this prize, which I don't consider as much to be an aknowledgement for my work on the European political discourse but rather as a consolation prize, because there is no European political discourse anymore".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean Pierre ORBAN, Writer, "If I were forced to choose an identity, it would undeniably be European. And if I had to defend the idea of a common territory, that would be the European idea. For an open and supportive Europe."