Press Release

07/07/2004

Schuman Medal awarded to Joe McCartin MEP

Mr Joe McCartin, outgoing MEP for Connacht/Ulster, has received a special honour at a meeting of the European Christian Democrats in Budapest, Hungary. Mr McCartin was singled out for “his outstanding contribution to peace and unity in Europe and for the promotion of the human values of mankind”.

Hans-Gert Poettering, Chairman of the Group, presented the medal and said that Mr McCartin had never held high office but nevertheless had become an international statesman. Poettering referred to the initiatives taken by Joe McCartin on Northern Ireland which contributed to a wide debate in Europe on Northern Ireland and eventually led to financial support from the budget of the European Union to assist the peace process in Northern Ireland. Joe McCartin had also supported common European defence and foreign policy often against the declared neutrality policy of Ireland.

Joe McCartin is one of only three Irish politicians to receive a Schuman Medal. The other recipients being former Taoiseach, John Bruton, and Peter Sutherland.

In his address to the 270 Members of the EPP-ED Group Hans-Gert Poettering also referred to the fact that Joe McCartin, when he first became a Member of the European Parliament 25 years ago, represented a poor peripheral area of the European Union. It was through the commitment of Joe McCartin that policies were established and structures put in place which had contributed to making his constituency prosperous and reducing unemployment and immigration substantially.

For further information please contact Mr Joe McCartin, Tel.: +353 87 2263834
EPP-ED Press Office, Mr Robert Fitzhenry, Tel.: +32 475 493356