European Parliament | ORGANIZATION

Simone Veil carries her ceremonial epee as she leaves the Institut de France after the ceremony in Paris, Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, center, leaves the Institut de France with her son Jean Thursday March 18 2010 in Paris. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves the Institut de France with Academician Helene Carrere d'Encausse Thursday March 18, 2010 in Paris after Simone Veil was inducted into the Academie Francaise. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil leaves the Institut de France with her husband Antoine Thursday March 18 2010 in Paris. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing congratulates French politician Simone Veil after a ceremony at the Institut de France in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy congratulates French politician Simone Veil after a ceremony at the Institut de France in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, right, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, arrives for her ceremony in Paris Thursday, March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, displays her ceremonial epee at the Institut de France before a ceremony in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, speaks with Academicians in the library of the Institut de France before a ceremony in Paris Thursday, March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, displays her ceremonial epee in the library of the Institut de France before a ceremony in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, delivers her speech at the Institut de France in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution. Atop center is Jean d'Ormesson , and at right top Helene Carrere d'Encausse.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, displays her ceremonial epee in the library of the Institut de France before a ceremony in Paris, Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, delivers her speech at the Institut de France in Paris, Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, delivers her speech at the Institut de France in Paris Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution. Atop center is Jean d'Ormesson , and at right top Helene Carrere d'Encausse.

Simone Veil, dressed in the French Academician's uniform of a black jacket embroidered in green laurel leaves, delivers her speech at the Institut de France in Paris, Thursday March 18, 2010. The name of Simone Veil, now 82, is synonymous with the battle that she spearheaded to legalize abortion in France. She has twice served as minister, for health and social affairs, and became the first woman president of the European Parliament. Veil, a French political icon who survived Nazi death camps and went on to become a moral figurehead for France, was inducted Thursday into the Academie Francaise, the sixth woman to cross the portals of the centuries-old institution. Atop center is Jean d'Ormesson , and at right top Helene Carrere d'Encausse.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, left, speaks with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek at the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday March 18, 2010. Papandreou said Thursday his country needs a firmer eurozone bailout plan to lift market pressure on his government and lower its borrowing rates. He told a European Parliament Committee Thursday that "this is not to be asking for money, but to have some form of an instrument on the table."

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) speaks during a joint press conference with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek (unseen) after their morning work session in the European Parliament on March 18, 2010 at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned Greece may be forced to resort to IMF aid and rejected a German call to expel eurozone nations in serious breach of fiscal rules.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) listens to questions during a joint press conference with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek (unseen) after their morning work session in the European Parliament on March 18, 2010 at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned Greece may be forced to resort to IMF aid and rejected a German call to expel eurozone nations in serious breach of fiscal rules.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) listens to questions during a joint press conference with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek (unseen) after their morning work session in the European Parliament on March 18, 2010 at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned Greece may be forced to resort to IMF aid and rejected a German call to expel eurozone nations in serious breach of fiscal rules.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) listens to questions during a joint press conference with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek (unseen) after their morning work session in the European Parliament on March 18, 2010 at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned Greece may be forced to resort to IMF aid and rejected a German call to expel eurozone nations in serious breach of fiscal rules.