Strasbourg – Rainer Wieland (MEP since 1997) has been elected Vice President in the first session of the new European Parliament. Mr Wieland, who was appointed Vice President of the European Movement International (EMI) in 2008, is a Christian Democrat politician from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Since 2001 he has actively promoted a federal Europe as Regional Chairman of the Union of European Federalists branch in Baden-Württemberg. In the current legislative period of the European Parliament, Mr Wieland will plead for a consolidation phase of the EU enlargement process, push for the rapid ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and for the adoption of a new climate deal.

Moreover, EMI Vice President Jo Leinen (MEP since 1999) has been elected Chairman of the Committee “Environment, Public Health and Food Safety”. The body is one of the most influential committees in the European Parliament as its cooperation with the Council is based on the co-decision procedure. In the past legislative period it namely adopted the climate package, the REACH directive on dangerous chemicals and the second programme of community action in the field of health.

The European Movement International is proud to have such outstanding personalities on its Board and wishes them all the best for the next parliamentary term.

ENDS

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Editors’ Note: The EUROPEAN MOVEMENT is an international organisation open to all political, economic, social and cultural trends in civil society. For more information, please contact the secretariat: tel +32 (0)2 508 30 88, email: communication@europeanmovement.eu