« Antidemocratic and xenophobic forces of Europe have always been attracted by the European unity dream, the mystic of the imperial Rome»
(FB - 1998)
" Being a citizen is a voluntary act "
(FB - 2009)
"Thinking about the future only makes sense if it is aimed at improving one’s thinking about the present and about the trends at work"
(FB - 1998)
"The European project is not a dream, but a hope. It is rooted in rationality, which is not the case with dreams. We Europeans have seen our dreams end in nightmares too often not to be suspicious."
(FB - 2005)
"The strength of a network is judged at the information level of the weakest link, or more precisely the link furthest from the centre of the network."
(FB - 2004)
"Europe's destiny is escaping the two "Greats" and it will come knocking on the door of the Europeans."
(FB - 1989)
"The history of Europe is a bit like a multifaceted diamond. Everyone sees the same diamond... but no one sees exactly the same facets."
(FB - E-storia project, 2004)
"Let us dare the future as the founding fathers of Europe did"
(FB - "From EU to Euroland", 2001)
"The European citizenship can not be decreed. The European citizen can only be born..."
(FB - 1992)
"Every state is a minority in the EU. In any case, let’s not forget that if all our states went into building the EU it is because they all felt too small to face alone both their future and the rest of the world."
(FB - 2003)
"From a single (EU) Currency to a single (EU) Citizenship. The euro is only an instrument."
(FB - 1997)
"An empire is always providing platforms where conflicts and wars prolife­rate... an empire needs enemies, whilst a Community requires partners."
(FB - 1992)
"Europe’s history has taught us that dreams and nightmares are the two faces of the same coin"
(FB - “Europe is Peace” 2006)
"Everybody wants to have a successful enlargement whereas it is a successful enlarged EU which is important."
(FB - 2002)
"It is clear that the existing national political parties can not serve two masters: national and European."
(FB - IDE, 1989)
"It takes teamwork to make Europe move forward."
(FB - 2005)
"There is nothing like one European. The European is a team of Europeans... the only way we can imagine a European, it is a team of people from different countries, not a single man or woman."
(FB - Enschede (NL) 2012)
"On the horizon with a heaven of freedom and a land of responsibility, this is perhaps the soul of Europe."
(FB - 1992)
"The future challenge for the European project is not about Europe anymore, it is about the Europeans."
(FB - 2005)
"The more Brussels speaks English, the less Brussels understands the Europeans"
(FB - 2004)
"Occupy the Future of Europe!"
("What do YOU want as a future for AEGEE?" Franck Biancheri at the 2012 Agora in Enschede)
"To combine new technologies and democratic principles to succeed in the entry of European integration in the 21st century or e-democracy at the service of Euro-democracy"
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"In the years 00 of the 21st century, democratization can only take place in the perspective of the democratic election of a European executive that remains to be invented."
(FB - EUSV, 2001)
"We must build the European Community, otherwise Europe will soon be culturally Americanised, politically Finlandised and technologically Japanised"
EGEE I, 1984

Franck Biancheri, figure of European construction, famous man from the city of Nice, together with Simone Veil

 

 

In a publication dated 12 March 2020, Ces villes françaises tournées vers l’Europe, the website Toute l’Europe, the reference site on European issues in France, presents an overview of French municipalities that are “a little more European than the others”. Among these is the city of Nice, which, we quote: “has acquired its European credentials more recently. It was the birthplace of two figures of European construction: Simone Veil, future president of the first European Parliament elected in 1979, and Franck Biancheri, one of the fathers of the Erasmus programme...”.

 

We are happy and proud of this quotation together with Simone Veil, an immense figure in the construction of Europe. Franck Biancheri deserves it so much! Thank you for bringing this character into our European history, born on March 11th, it is a very nice birthday present, a very nice tribute.

 

Moreover, Franck Biancheri is buried in the famous Trabuquet cemetery in Menton. His grave is referenced in Cemeteries of France and elsewhere (Cimetières de France et d’ailleurs): MENTON (06) : Trabuquet Cemetery: “On the height overlooking the bell towers of the church of St. Michael and the chapel of the White Penitents, two cemeteries stand out before the sky. The furthest one is called Le Trabuquet, a name coming from the traps that were once set for birds passing through on the hill…”.

 

Ces villes françaises tournées vers l’Europe – Toute l’Europe, 12/03/2020

 

We propose to read again the documentation about Franck Biancheri and Erasmus in “Special ERASMUS Anniversary – Tribute to Franck Biancheri” (AAFB) and the video: [Franck Biancheri, l’Européen] ERASMUS 1987 (Video) – the key-role played by European students for the adoption of ERASMUS: