International Bike Tour from Brussels to the Eastern Border of the EU (27th April – 17th May 2009)
Ernst Piehl presents his project:

For years, I used to make one long bike tour in Europe per year, normally alone, but sometimes in the company of friends or family members for some parts of the way.

On November 9th I watched an interesting documentary on German TV on the “B 1 (German National Road) from Aachen to Küstrin”, in which Mr. Jürgen Linden, the Mayor of Aachen, participated by car.

The idea was born to follow the same road by bike, this famous “Bundesstrasse 1” from western to eastern German border  and to continue the Polish National road “N 22” through Poland to the EU Eastern Border, about 100 km before the Russian Kaliningrad/former Königsberg.

Living in Brussels and knowing that "Brussels" stands in public opinion for Europe we shall start here, going through the eastern part of Belgium and the smallest part of Netherlands, trying to remind along the road local people, civil society and media representatives that European elections take place the 7th June 2009, in Poland only for the second time.

Hoping to motivate others to participate, at least to some of the daily trips and to contribute for more participation on the 7th June (let’s say with 5% more than 2004), in the cities and regions along the road.

Overall means / Organisation essentials

The start will be in the hall of Brussels Town and then passing by the other Town halls, like in Aachen (European Charlemagne’s prize capital) as many as possible (see enclosed draft bike tour plan), in the hope that mayors and/or other City representatives would have some minutes to meet.

Counting on the motivation of my friends in the informal “European Network for the Unification of Europe” where we are preparing colloquia and other European activities since 2001, often together with the main organisations of the “European family”: European Movement International (EMI), Union of European Federalists (UEF) and “Jeunes Européens Fédéralistes” (JEF) and their national branches.

Inviting the European headquarters of the four democratic parties in the EP: EPP, PES, Liberals and Greens to be present through their local candidates at the start or arrival in the cities on the road and to participate if possible partly or fully on the tour.

Hoping that candidates to the European Elections could be present at the Town Halls as well as some local press and other media representatives may be interested in this modest, but concrete-symbolic action on the road to unite Europe, some weeks before the next European elections beginning of June 2009.

Ernst Piehl    
PLEASE comment by mail to  piehl@scarlet.be

To see the complete roadmap, click here.