Buzek To Attend Opening Of Envelope

One fortunate recipient of the post is going to be accompanied by the President of the European Parliament as she opens a mystery envelope. Mrs Stephanie van Hoon, an 87 year old pensioner from the small Flemish town of Evergem, near Gent, received the mystery post a week ago. She explained, “I never got round to opening it. It looks official but there’s something not quite right about it. I think it may be junk mail.” She had told neighbours and shopkeepers about the puzzling post, but has no idea how President Buzek heard about her dilemma, but it is suspected that his staff became aware after Mrs van Hoon called a local radio programme about the matter.

The pensioner is looking forwards to the visit, next week, where the envelope will be opened in the presence of Mr Buzek, telling the BJ, “I’ve bought a bottle of nice sherry in case he wants to celebrate and I’ll be using my best crockery. After he’s come all this way, I felt I should make an effort.”

Buzek issued a statement to the world’s press announcing his attendance at the letter opening, commenting that, “It is a vital part of the European project that citizens communicate, not just with the institutions, but with each other,” he continued, “Nothing symbolises the unity of Europe more than our postal services, the act of posting and receiving letters and parcels up to 5 kilograms, is an essential tool for making us all feel European and I am honoured and delighted to attend this letter opening, but I attend in a spirit of humility, for I am only a representative of the 600 million citizens of our glorious, sacred union. I attend in their name.”

Mrs van Hoon has kept the letter safe, on her mantelpiece, until the Presidential arrival. She told BJ that the letter was, “normal size, you know, like most letters these days,” adding that the envelope was slightly off-white and had a small plastic window in, where she could see her address printed. She added that she thought the item could have been posted in Antwerp, but wasn’t sure. Buzek has admitted to feeling “Excited and a little tense” about the meeting next week, but said that he was most definitely looking forward to the opening, “It will be a big surprise for all of us, nobody knows what it may contain,” but he refused to speculate.