Herman Van Rompuy

Red za izredne zasluge
za prispevek k razvoju Evropske unije in posebno skrb za enakopravnost narodov Evropske unije

Predsednik Republike Slovenije Borut Pahor je Hermanu Van Rompuyu vročil odlikovanje red za izredne zasluge 7. oktobra 2015 na slovesnosti v Predsedniški palači.


Foto: STA/Anže Malovrh


Foto: STA/Anže Malovrh

Utemeljitev:

Herman Van Rompuy je bil in ostaja zaprisežen Evropejec.

Kot prvi predsednik Evropskega sveta je odigral ključno vlogo pri oblikovanju temeljnih dokumentov in pogodb, s katerimi je Evropska unija med svetovno gospodarsko krizo uspešno prebrodila največjo preizkušnjo evrskega območja do zdaj. Tudi po zaslugi njegovih pobud je evrsko območje z novimi reševalnimi mehanizmi in bančno unijo danes stabilnejše in bolje pripravljeno na morebitne nove krize.

Glede na to, da je stabilnost evra strateškega pomena tudi za Slovenijo in da je bil njegov mandat čas, ko se je s težavami spoprijemala tudi slovenska država, je Herman Van Rompuy s svojim delovanjem veliko storil tudi za Slovenijo. Sloveniji ter našim specifičnim zaprosilom in zahtevam je posvečal posebno pozornost. Tako smo v najtežjih trenutkih imeli v Evropskem svetu velikega zaveznika in prijatelja.

S svojim potrpežljivim in strokovnim delom je uspešno združeval različne poglede držav članic v enotna stališča. V obdobju težke preizkušnje za evropsko idejo je Evropski svet vodil modro in preudarno ter pri tem namenjal posebno pozornost ranljivosti majhnih držav.

S stabilizacijskimi mehanizmi, ki so evropskim institucijam naložili tudi nove pristojnosti, so narejeni pomembni koraki v smeri oblikovanja monetarne unije kot manjkajočega elementa za nadaljnje povezovanje Evropske unije. Prav monetarni uniji je Herman Van Rompuy namenil največ pozornosti, saj jo razume kot ključni projekt evropske prihodnosti.

Kot zaprisežen Evropejec je v svojem mandatu namenjal posebno pozornost manjšim državam članicam in prisluhnil njihovim stališčem, saj je udejanjal temeljni načeli Evropske unije: enakost in solidarnost.

Naklonjenost Sloveniji je izkazoval pogosto, posebej pa nas je počastil z uradnim obiskom v Sloveniji prav na dan, ko je uradno začela veljati Lizbonska pogodba. Tako je uradna evropska himna 1. decembra 2009 prvič zadonela prav v Sloveniji. Slovenijo je obiskal še nekajkrat kot predsednik Evropskega sveta, vsakič z željo in pripravljenostjo prisluhniti slovenskim stališčem ter pomagati pri njihovi uveljavitvi v Evropskem svetu in drugih evropskih forumih. Še posebej sta bila pomembna njegova podpora in razumevanje v času, ko se je Slovenija spoprijemala s finančno in dolžniško krizo.

Herman Van Rompuy ostaja zvest viziji Evrope, ki temelji na vrednotah enakopravnosti vseh narodov ne glede na njihovo velikost.


Prevod:

Due to his contribution to the development of the European Union and his special concern for the equality of the nations of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy shall receive THE ORDER FOR EXCEPTIONAL MERITS.

Herman Van Rompuy has been and remains a devout European.

As the first President of the European Council, he played a vital role in the formation of the fundamental documents and treaties by means of which, during the global economic crisis, the European Union successfully withstood the greatest test of the Euro Zone thus far. It was also due to his initiatives that today the Euro Zone is more stable and better prepared for possible new crises with its new rescue mechanisms and the banking union.

Considering that the stability of the euro has strategic significance for Slovenia as well, and that his mandate was in a time when Slovenia also faced problems, Herman Van Rompuy's actions have greatly benefited Slovenia. He paid special attention to Slovenia and our specific requests and demands. Therefore, we had a great ally and friend at the European Council even in our most difficult moments.

His patient and professional work successfully combined the various views of Member States into unified positions. In the difficult period when the European idea was put to the test, he led the European Council as a wise and prudent leader, paying special attention to the vulnerability of small states.

The stabilisation mechanisms, which conferred new powers to European institutions, represented significant steps towards the formation of a monetary union as the missing element for the future integration of the European Union. It was to this monetary union that Herman Van Rompuy paid most of his attention because he sees it as a key project for the future of Europe.

As a devout European, he paid special attention to smaller Member States during his mandate and he knew how to listen to their positions while fulfilling two fundamental principles of the European Union: equality and solidarity.

He often showed his affinity towards Slovenia and also paid Slovenia an official visit on the very day that the Treaty of Lisbon became effective. And so it was in Slovenia that the official European anthem was heard for the first time on 1^st December 2009. Herman Van Rompuy visited Slovenia on several other occasions as the President of the European Council, each time with the desire and willingness to listen to Slovenia's views and help them be endorsed in the European Council and other European forums. His support and understanding during the time when Slovenia was facing a financial and debt crisis were particularly important.

Herman Van Rompuy remains loyal to the vision of Europe, which is based on the values of the equality of all nations, regardless of their size.