Leader of the ECR Group delivered key note at the ODS Congress in Prague

It is a great honour and I am truly touched that I am able to stand before you - dear friends of the ODS - as the leader of our common group in the European Parliament. Actually, I should not say "friends" but "brothers." Because, ever since I was a child, I have been taught to speak about the Czech nation as "our Czech brothers." This beautiful city where we are today is a testimony of how much the Czechs have given - and continue to give - to Europe; testimony of how much they have given to Poles. It is in Prague that the mother of the first Polish king - Bolesław Chrobry - is buried: the Czech princess Dobrawa.

Today, we have the year 2009. This autumn, we are reminded of the autumn twenty years ago when we both were regaining our freedom and sovereignty. Twenty years ago, we witnessed the bankruptcy of a system that built its future on denying two extraordinarily important aspects of social life: the love of one's nation and of the free market. We were indeed lucky that in the 80's the West was guided by individuals who understood the evils of communism and who knew that it is wrong to compromise with evil. Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher - to them we owe our victory, our freedom. It is therefore symbolic that today the largest centre-right parties in the Czech Republic and Poland constitute one group in the European Parliament, together with the British Conservatives, the party of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

Our cooperation has brought results. It is well known today that others have not been able to marginalize us and that the European Conservatives and Reformists Group is an effective tool in the fight for a better Europe. Finally, a voice can be heard in Brussels and Strasburg - a voice that says: more freedom, more democracy, more free market and more solidarity in our common Europe. Our MEPs work everyday to bring a less regulated and less ideological Europe closer to its citizens. The contribution of ODS MEPs to the success of our group is invaluable. ODS deputies in the European Parliament inspire us with their hard work and professionalism. I can boldly say today: "Czech brothers! You can be proud of those who represent you in Europe."

We in Poland have had problems with unity and effectiveness of the centre-right. From the early 90's, ODS was for us and example of a wise and effective centre-right party in our part of Europe. This wisdom and effectiveness was confirmed this year by your leader, Mirek Topolanek, who led your country and all of Europe in a very difficult time.

I have deep confidence in your success. I wish you this success because I know that it is in the interest of the Czech nation, all your closest neighbours and all of Europe.
 

1st February 2012 - Martin Callanan MEP, Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, takes part in a debate with the council and commission president on the outcome of the EU summit held on the 30th January 2012. Callanan warns that the intergovernmental fiscal compact would 'make socialism illegal' and suggested the commission scrap its employment directorate, which would help to stimulate job creation