Speaking on behalf of Congress President Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, at the funeral of Jean-Claude Frécon which took place on 13 December in the Church of Pouilly-Les-Feurs, Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress, said 'I last saw Jean-Claude Frécon in Strasbourg on 2 December. He was just leaving the meeting of the Congress Bureau and was running to get to the meeting of the Municipal Council in Pouilly les Feurs. Jean-Claude's engagement in both local and European affairs is summed up in this departure from one of the capitals of Europe to the village de Pouilly where he had his roots. This active European, who remained firmly anchored in rural France, always had two balls in the air, and spent his whole life juggling between his European, national and local commitments. I believe I can claim that Jean-Claude drew all his energy for his work at national and European level from his involvement at local level. His passing is a great loss for all of us who knew him not only as a kind and warm-hearted colleague but also as a faithful and enthusiastic friend.' Andreas Kiefer was accompanied by Jean-Philippe Bozouls, Director of the Congress, and Sabine Zimmer, Head of Private Office. 

Statement