Christmas Message from the ESU President and Secretary-General
Brussels
A Message of Reflection and Hope for the Future
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Bernard Worms (Stommeln, 14 March 1930 – Pulheim, 21 December 2024), former President of the European Seniors’ Union (ESU), who died on 21 December 2024 at the age of 95.
Throughout its 30 years of existence, the European Seniors’ Union benefitted immensely from Dr Worms’ commitment, leadership, and inspiration. Seniors from across Europe are deeply grateful for his contributions and extend their heartfelt condolences to his wife, Hildegard Worms, with whom he shared over 60 years of marriage, as well as to his children, grandchildren, and friends.
Dr Worms was a devout Christian, and his faith served as the foundation for his work in the CDU (of which he was a member since 1946) and in numerous initiatives both in his region and across Europe. A staunch advocate of European unity, he drew strength and encouragement from prominent figures such as Helmut Kohl, Wilfried Martens, and Angela Merkel. He understood the vital role of citizens in shaping Europe and actively encouraged their participation in building a united continent.
In 1990, Dr Worms was among the founders of an umbrella organisation uniting seniors across borders. After years of preparation, and with a dedicated team of seniors from Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, and Spain, the European Seniors’ Union was officially established during the EPP Congress on 7 November 1995 in Madrid.
In its early years, Dr Worms, then President of the Senioren Union of the CDU, served as Vice-President of the ESU. In 2001, following the resignation of the first President, Stefan Knafl, Dr Bernard Worms was elected President of the ESU, a position he held until 2013.
During his presidency, he worked tirelessly to secure the recognition of the ESU within the EPP and to highlight the role of seniors in society. A hallmark of his tenure was the significant expansion of the ESU following the accession of new EU member states in 2004. He travelled extensively across Europe, promoting his vision, encouraging seniors and political parties to establish civil society movements, and advocating for seniors’ rights in society.
Even after An Hermans succeeded him as President in 2013, Dr Worms remained closely involved with the ESU, continuing to inspire its members with his unwavering belief: “We must build the European house together!”