Berlin - The Then and the Now

Sitting at the Legal Affairs Committee meeting in the European Parliament today, I was struck by the then of 1989 so connected to the now. Personally, this day was one depicted in our history books but over the past days the acknowledgement of this special day has brought the reality of history to life. For example, three MEPs who have been elected to the current European Parliament, Speroni, Lamassoure and Casini were members of the legal affairs commitee this day twenty years ago and were in Berlin on the 8th November to discuss the legal basis of Berlin. They explained today that nobody on the 8th November 1989, no matter how close to the situation, could have foretold that the following day an announcement would be made allowing East Berliners to cross over to West Berlin. They viewed the events of the following day personally from the window of the Reichstag. It is said that some GDR politicians foresaw the wall only some days before as lasting for another hundred years. Interestingly, Franz-Ludwig Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, MEP was also present, son of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg who led an assasination attempt on Hitler 20 July 1944.

Ireland would also be involved in helping the European Economic Community which automatically had to prepare for German unification. In "The Reasons Why, I recall that "During this critical moment, the Irish were in charge of the EU Council Presidency chaired by former Taoiseach Charles J. Haughey...Mr. Haughey set out his priorities for the Presidency as: Calling the special Dublin summit on German reunification; bringing central and eastern Europe into a united Europe;..."Fourteen years later, the Irish would also be in central position to manage the uniting of a family which had artificially been separated by war. "How ironic that exactly six decades afer World War II, on 1 May 2004, it was the Irish as President of the Council who would host the "Day of welcomes", the homecoming, for ten new Member States who had been knocking on the European Union door since 1998. Seamus Heaney reminded us of the auspiciousness of the location of the Phoenix Park and the symbol of the Phoenix - renewal. Europe was indeed renewing itself, coming from a place of war and tyranny to peace and democracy. A day to be proud of indeed! Afterall, at this key and very specific point in time, Ireland was not only at the heart of Europe, it was running Europe. Berie Ahern was President of the Council, Pat Cox was President of the European Parliament and the Secreary General of the European Commission was David O' Sullivan an Irish man..."

Joining the European Community in 1973 was a fundamental step forward for Irish women who automatically upon membership of the EEC received rights of equality particularly in the field of employment. For example, women who married prior to 1973 were prohibited from continuing in civil service employment following their marriage under Irish law guided by the Irish Constitution.

Equality for women and for every EU citizen continues to be a vital aim of the EU. As part of Ireland’s application to the EEC any legislation discriminating against women was neutralised and for this all Irish women can be grateful. Significantly, the number of women in the workforce has risen from 27% in 1973 to more than 42% today.

Since our membership, workers and women have benefited from further equality based legislation and socially based legislation such as the promotion of maternity and paternity leave, rights of redundancy and protection of young persons at work in addition to rights for part-time and agency workers and protection of health and safety.

Endorsement of Pat Cox - Director of Ireland for Europe Campaign

"Regina O'Connor has had the fascinating opportunity in the past several years to have worked in the three key institutions of the European Union, with the European Commission as a stagiaire working with the Middle East Peace Process Desk Officer in 2001, with the Council during the hectic period of Ireland's successful presidency of the EU in the first six months of 2004 and subsequently as a legal and political advisor to the UEN Group and now ALDE group in the European Parliament. For someone so young this has given her a unique insight from a 360 degree perspective on how decisions are arrived at and how laws are made in the corridors of power in Brussels. Most of all her insights shared in this text reveal the rich democratic texture to the decision making process in Europe, a far cry from the caricature of a Europe dominated by so-called "faceless bureaucrats" or unelected officials.

The book also gives a keen sense of Regina's own motivation in her many references in the several contexts in which she has worked to what she describes as Team Ireland. Little wonder that Europe has been good for us because when you see through the eyes of this insider you have the chance to see that we have been great in Europe."


Endorsement of Pat Cox, Director of Ireland for Europe Campaign, former President of the European Parliment, former MEP and T.D.‏ for The Reasons Why by Regina O Connor

Introducing the Book Project on the European Union