Possibility of every municipality across the Member States having at least one public place named after the European Union

19.11.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-6423/08
by Carlo Fatuzzo (PPE‑DE)
to the Commission

Never before has the fate of the great European project been so much at the mercy of criticism and anti‑Europeanism, which threaten to undermine its very being.

It is also a fact that the individual peoples of Europe very often feel the EU institutions to be remote and detached — sometimes viewing them coldly and at times even being completely ignorant of their importance and role.

The European Union therefore needs pragmatic initiatives that bring it closer to these various population groups and facilitate the forging of bonds of friendship and brotherhood and a sense of common belonging.

A commitment by the Member States to celebrate the European Union by dedicating to it at least one public place (a road, square or building of particular historical or functional importance) in every municipality would seem to serve that aim.

In short, there should not be anywhere in the European Union that does not have at least one place name that refers explicitly to that Union.

Does the Commission think it could look into a comprehensive proposal to the Council and Parliament aimed at achieving that objective?

OJ C 316, 23/12/2009