College of Europe - E-newsletter Special Edition 2

The European Parliament Bronisław Geremek European Civilization Chair

Thanks to the support of the European Union, and in particular the European Parliament, the College of Europe Natolin campus (Warsaw) has created the EP Geremek European Civilization Chair in memory of Professor Bronisław Geremek †

Inauguration Ceremony of the European Parliament – Bronisław Geremek European Civilization Chair

On 13 April 2011 the College of Europe Natolin (Warsaw) Campus inaugurated the European Parliament - Bronisław Geremek European Civilization Chair.

The inauguration was opened by Professor Paul Demaret, Rector of the College of Europe followed by an address by Mrs Ewa Ośniecka – Tamecka, Vice-rector of the College of Europe Natolin (Warsaw) campus who recalled Professor Bronisław Geremek and presented the new Chairholder Professor João Carlos Espada.

Special letter from Prof. Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament

“The College of Europe in Natolin is a fitting place to hold such a distinguished Chair of European Civilisation. This campus, opened after the efforts of the Polish government, is a symbol of the changes which occurred in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989. It is a testimony to how “European” this part of the continent has always been. On this campus, students and Professors who come from all parts of Europe, demonstrate that there no longer are divisions on our continent and that we are finally reintegrated. Those unnatural divisions of the past belong in the past.”

In memory of Professor Bronisław Geremek

Bronisław GEREMEK (1932-2008) - former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland (1997-2000), Member of European Parliament, President of the ‘Jean Monnet Fondation pour l'Europe’, held the Chair of European Civilisation at the College of Europe, Natolin (Warsaw) since 2002. He had obtained his doctorate from the University of Warsaw in 1960, and was also a graduate of Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Paris, Sorbonne). He had worked as Director of the "Centre for Polish Culture" at the Sorbonne and as Director of the Research Department for Medieval History of the Polish Academy of Sciences and taught at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sorbonne, and College de France.