[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2291-E2292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CHRIS PIENING, A BUILDER OF TRANS-ATLANTIC RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with regret that we report that last 
weekend our friend Chris Piening died after a long struggle with 
amyloidosis.
  Chris worked for years as the staff engine, behind the European side 
of what is not called the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue--the 
interparliamentary dialogue between the United States Congress and the 
European Parliament. That dialogue just had its 53d meeting, and is a 
critical part of the bourgeoning interaction between the two largest 
economic and political entities in the Western world.
  Chris was born in New York in 1945: he was an exceptional human 
being. His good humor, capacity for hard work, and diplomatic skills 
were regularly tested but never found lacking. He always exhibited an 
extraordinary zest for life that touched all those he came in contact 
with.
  Chris was a scholar as well as a legislative official. During a leave 
at the University of Washington he wrote Global Europe: the European 
Union in World Affairs (Lynne Rienner: Boulder, Co., 1997), considered 
an authoritative account of the EU's actions abroad. He worked in 
recent years as the head of the European Parliament's information 
office in London.
  Mr. Speaker, on our own behalf, and on behalf of the Members, former 
Members, and staff associated with the Congress-EP exchange, we extend 
our condolences to Chris's wife, Marion, his children, Jenny and 
Claude, and his colleagues and friends at the European Parliament.
  For the information of our colleagues, we set out below a tribute 
relating to Chris's life and work issued by the Secretary General of 
the European Parliament.

                                                   Strasbourg,

                                                December 12, 2001.

                            Notice to Staff

       Dear Colleagues: It is with the deepest sadness that I have 
     to inform you of the death of our colleague, Chris Piening, 
     who died in London last Saturday, December 8, aged 56 after a 
     long and painful illness. Chris leaves his wife, Marion, and 
     two children, Jenny and Claude.
       He began work in the Parliament on May 1, 1973 as a 
     Translator in Luxembourg, becoming an official the following 
     year. He was appointed Administrator in June 1979, Principal 
     Administrator in December 1983 and became Head of Division in 
     1989. In 1985 he was assigned to Brussels where he worked for 
     DG II, DG III and then the President's Cabinet. In February 
     1999 he was appointed Head of our London Information Office.

[[Page E2292]]

       Chris leaves an indelible impression on his very many 
     friends amongst Members and staff. A convinced European from 
     the first hour, he was a fine public servant with strong 
     convictions. Demanding of others, he gave of himself. Always 
     dedicated to his work, he inspired loyalty and affection in 
     his colleagues, even though his habit of asking difficult 
     questions would sometimes put his hierarchy in a spin.
       But it is as a great and loyal friend that we remember him: 
     his love of life, his kindness, his enthusiasm for everything 
     from skiing to books or to good-natured gossip over a good 
     meal. To this list of qualities, and to his wonderful sense 
     of humour, I must add his extraordinary courage and 
     fortitude, particularly over the last two years. I saw him a 
     week before he died, frail but still with his ineradicable 
     sense of humour and bravery.
       We will all miss him deeply.
                                                 Julian Priestley,
                                                Secretary General.

     

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