Jens-Peter Bonde, former Danish MEP who was well-known in Ireland
because of his involvement in various EU-related referendum campaigns
in this country over decades, lost his battle against cancer and died
in Copenhagen yesterday evening, Easter Sunday, 4 April.
He was one of the longest serving members of the European Parliament,
having been elected to that body in the first direct elections in
1979. He was re-elected six times consecutively and was a member of
the conference of presidents for 17 years. He was known throughout
Europe as a life-long campaigner for democracy and transparency in the
EU.
Jens-Peter Bonde was one of the founders of the Danish People’s
Movement and originally opposed EEC membership for Denmark.
Following Denmark’s Maastricht Treaty Referendum in 1993 he accepted
the fact of Denmark’s EU membership and founded the Danish June Movement to
campaign for more democracy and transparency in the EU and its
institutions.
He took part in all nine EU-related referendums in the Republic of
Ireland between 1972 and 2012 in broad support of the EU-critical side
and participated in many radio and TV debates on these occasions. He
was the author of over twenty books on EU topics and is probably best
known for his production of the ‘Reader-Friendly Edition of the EU
Treaties’, with its invaluable index (see http://www.EUabc.com),
which enables people find their way around the complex EU treaties.
His many friends and admirers in Ireland, in Denmark and
internationally will mourn his passing. His close friend Anthony
Coughlan said: “Jens-Peter Bonde’s death means that Denmark and Europe
have lost a great democrat and internationalist and Ireland has lost a
very good friend.”
Jens-Peter Bonde was the husband of Lisbeth Kirk, founder of EUObserver.
He was an admirer of the work of Irish artist Robert Ballagh, who
painted three portraits of members of the Bonde family: one of Jens-Peter
himself, one of his wife Lisbet Kirk and one of Jens-Peter and his
four sons together.
(See www.EUobserver.com for confirmation)
Filed under: ☞EU ABC |
NationalPlatform.Org 
Anthony, Sorry to learn of the news about Jens-Peter Bonde. He was a great campaigner for national democracy.
Roger Cole Chair Peace & Neutrality Alliance
PANA https://www.pana.ie
From: NationalPlatform.Org To: Sent: 4/7/2021 12:30 AM Subject: [New post] Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde, for decades a giant of international EU-critical movement, passes
Admin posted: ” Jens-Peter Bonde, former Danish MEP who was well-known in Irelandbecause of his involvement in various EU-related referendum campaignsin this country over decades, lost his battle against cancer and diedin Copenhagen yesterday evening, Easter Sunday, 4 A”