Speeches (videos)

Charlemagne Prize

In 1998, Bronislaw Geremek – as the first Pole – was awarded the Charlemagne Prize, Europe’s most prestigious honor for services to promoting peace and unity in Europe. “I have always dreamed of Europe. Perhaps it also has meaning; great political projects must be accompanied by dreams that awaken the will to act,” Bronislaw Geremek said when he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen.

Poland’s NATO accession ceremony

On March 12, 1999, Bronislaw Geremek delivered a speech at Poland’s NATO accession ceremony. On that day, as Poland’s Foreign Minister, Prof. Bronislaw Geremek handed over to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the act of Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty.

Speech at the Bundestag on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of National Socialism

On January 28, 2002, Bronislaw Geremek spoke at the Bundestag on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism.

“This is not a political speech, but a personal remembrance. I want to talk about the crimes of the totalitarian system on the example of one and only one city – my city of Warsaw, on the example of one and only one life – my life,” he said. During his speech, he spoke publicly for the first time about his own experience of World War II.

Speech as a candidate for President of the European Parliament

On July 20, 2004, Prof. Bronislaw Geremek gave one of the most important speeches in his career as a candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament. “I come with a dream of Europe. About a Europe of solidarity. A dream of a Europe of solidarity and justice. This Parliament is an institution of such a Europe,” he said.

Prof. B. Geremek was a candidate for the ALDE Group. In the vote, he received 208 votes, losing to the joint candidate of the Christian Democrats and Socialists, Josep Borrell.

25th anniversary of the August Agreements – speech at the European Parliament

On September 26, 2005, Prof. Bronislaw Geremek delivered a speech in the European Parliament during a session marking the 25th anniversary of the August agreements at the Gdansk Shipyard. Europarlamentarians decided to establish August 31 – the date of the signing of the August Agreements – as the Day of Freedom and Solidarity.