Pöttering, in his report, paid tribute to the Polish people, wishing it will not forget "it was Poland that started the big change" in Europe, in particular John Paul II. "It was not Communism or National Socialism that established themselves: both wanted to create new people, and both failed", he recalled. The Berlin Declaration, according to the president of the European Parliament, must be signed, "because it is a commitment to what we want to do in the areas of globalisation, climate change and inter-cultural dialogue". From this perspective, he highlighted the need of "mutual tolerance", i.e. respect for others but with the possibility for everyone to live and express their own faith. "To succeed, dialogue must be based on mutuality", on truth, and cannot abstain from mentioning any subjects. In addition, Pöttering reasserted his commitment "to the unity of the continent" and to Europe, and made an appeal to Christians and Catholics to work hard to such end, placing "at the centre the concept of the respect of human solidarity".
