Summary of article in Billed Bladet #04, 2018.
Written by our Strassbourg correspondent, Ulrik Ulriksen.
As you know Mary went to Strassbourg with a Danish delegation in order to address the European Council.
Mary's agenda was about gender equality for women and girls worldwide, not to mention their basic rights.
At the same time the Danish government is currently advocating an overhaul of the European Human Rights Conventions. - The interpretations of these conventions have on many occasions prevented expelling foreign criminals or undesired asylum seekers - to the considerable frustrations of politicians and well as the general public. Such proposals would have been next to unthinkable fifteen years ago, today there is an ever growing public demand for it in many if not most European countries. (Otherwise one can fear the brown-shirts will take over and they don't care much about human rights...)
The reason for that, and as such also for Mary addressing the European Council is because Denmark currently holds the chairmanship of the council.
But back to Mary, she started the trip by visiting the Danish ambassador in his private residence. Present was also the permanent Danish representative of the European Council.
Actually Mary's visit was supposed to be low key, so no flowergirl was ready, but - Two Swedish girls (probably daughters of diplomats) had heard about Mary coming and had taken up position outside the danish ambassadors residence. Six year old Josefin and ten year old Johanna. "Thank you very much for the flowers", said Mary. And upon learning that the youngest name is Josefin, Mary told her that her own youngest daughter is named Josephine.
Then it was time for Mary's speech at the first session of the European Council in 2018 and marking the Danish chairmanship until May 2018.
On such occasions it custom to lay visions and ideas which the country that holds the chairmanship wish the council to address and prefarably start doing something about.
Mary gave a 20 minutes speech in which she said: "Actually it's the first time I'm in Strassbourg and it's definitely the first time I give a speech in the European Council.
A well educated child self confident child which is appreciated and a respected member of his of her community is an important player, who can take an active part in a democratic society and be a guardian and champion of the human rights".
After Mary's speech the Italian President of the European Council's Parlamentary Assembly, Michele Nicoletti, praised especially Mary and her work with among other things the Mary Foundation to the sky in his return speech. (That is of course to be expected but Michele Nicoletti went well above what is polite and diplomatic).
See for yourselves here:
BB #04, 2018
More photos from this wonderful visit
The court has released some photos as well:
