Your Royal Highnesses,
It is a great honour for me to be able to welcome you to our Palace, known as the "Palais de l'Europe", the House of Human rights, Democracy and Rule of law. I would like to add that welcoming you here is a moving experience for me personally as a member of the Luxembourg Parliament.
Sir,
I wish to thank you for having kindly accepted our invitation to address the Assembly at a time when the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg holds the Presidency of the European Union. When you addressed the Assembly 13 years ago during Luxembourg's Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, you rightly noted the complementarity of the two institutions. Your presence today reinforces that aspect of complementarity.
The challenges facing us today are bigger than ever: the conflict in Ukraine and terrorist threats, not to mention the migrant crisis, combined with rising intolerance, racism and xenophobia. No state can face up to these challenges alone. We must find responses based on responsibility and solidarity.
Madam,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your unfailing commitment to the humanitarian cause, in your work as President of the Luxembourg Red Cross and as UNESCO goodwill Ambassador, and in the support you give to the development of microcredit.
Dear colleagues,
I also have great pleasure in welcoming to this chamber my successor as President of the Luxembourg Parliament, Mr Mars Di Bartolomeo, and Ms Corinne Cahen, Minister for Family Affairs, who in her capacity of Minister for Integration, and with commitment and competence is responsible for the reception of migrants.
Your Royal Highnesses, Mr President, Minister,
I think I can say, without any false modesty, that the Grand Duchy is well represented at the Council of Europe: Mr Dean Spielmann, President of the European Court of Human Rights, who will address our Assembly tomorrow, Ambassador Michèle Eisenbarth, and Ms Mireille Paulus, Secretary of the Committee of Ministers.
I am delighted to be able to welcome to the public gallery some representatives of the Youth Parliament.
Dear colleagues,
Allow me on this occasion to say a few words in my mother tongue, Lëtzebuergesch. I thank the interpreters for their invaluable assistance.
Altesses Royales,
Äer Präsenz haut ass en Encouragement an eng Ennerstëtzung fir meng Missioun als President vun dëser Assemblée, déi aus 318 Parlamentarier zesummegesat ass aus 47 Länner, déi 820 Millounen Bierger representéieren.
Här Chamberspresident,
Iech wëll ech, genee esou wéi de Kollegen Deputéierten, e grousse Merci soën fir Äert Versteesdemech, dass ech esou oft an der Chamber feelen, an dass Dir mer et erlaabt mengen Aufgaben am Conseil de l'Europe nozegoën. Et ass eng grouss Eéier fir mech Vertrieder vun onsem Parlament hei ze sinn.
(Your Royal Highnesses,
Your presence today offers me encouragement and support in the accomplishment of my mission as President of this Assembly, which is composed of 318 parliamentarians from 47 countries, representing 820 million citizens.
Mr President of the Chamber of Deputies,
I would like to thank both you and our fellow parliamentarians for your indulgence regarding my frequent absences from Parliament; this allows me to carry out my duties at the Council of Europe. It is a great honour for me to represent our Parliament.)
Dear colleagues,
Without further delay, I would now like to ask His Royal Highness to address the Assembly.
Your Highness, you have the floor.