Letter

SPEECH/02/576

Romano Prodi

President of the European Commission

A European spring

European Parliament, visit by members of parliament from candidate countries

Strasbourg, 19 November 2002

Mr President,

Honourable Members,

Representatives of the candidate countries,

Outside this Parliament building, autumn is already well advanced and the coldest season of the year will soon be upon us. But here in the Assembly there is no chill in the air.

With over 200 deputies from the candidate countries present, the atmosphere in the Assembly today is more like the first day of school.

I bid the members of parliament from the candidate countries welcome to what will become the home of all Europeans. Your presence signals the opening of a new chapter for Europe.

Let me take this opportunity to renew my congratulations for the tremendous efforts you have made, efforts that have often filled me with admiration and always struck me as historically unparalleled.

Without the dedication your parliaments have brought to the work of transposing the acquis into national law, we would not be here today.

***

Up to now we have been working hard to open the door to millions of new European citizens. Now that the door is open, we must look to the future.

And what do we see? We see that the great democratic revolution has already borne fruit in the candidate countries in recent years.

We see that the European Union is, more than ever before, the reference point for many countries when it comes to civil and political development.

We realise that no other player on the international stage exerts the same power of attraction in its own region and beyond. And enlargement is our magnum opus.

Honourable members and friends from the candidate countries,

In a few years we shall be bigger and more influential. This will entail above all more international responsibilities, especially as regards our immediate neighbours. So:

• We must create the conditions for completing the unification of the continent by paying more attention to the Balkans.

• We must formulate a strong, innovative and open policy for neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean and on our new borders.

• Enlargement will certainly trigger a debate on Europe's borders, but it should also make us realise the need for a complete overhaul of our policies for neighbouring countries; we need to surround ourselves with a complete circle of friendly countries with which we can share our broad vision of the future.

• We must speak with one voice in foreign policy so as to strengthen our position on the international stage and project our values and our sense of solidarity.

The successful outcome of the Brussels European Council means that we can enter the last lap.

• In the next few weeks we have to wrap up the last details of the negotiating chapters that are still open.

• Next year the candidates will sign the Accession Treaty that will be put to a referendum in all the candidates for accession.

• Once all this has been done, 75 million new citizens will be able to exercise their vote in the elections for a new European Parliament in June 2004.

Turning to Cyprus, allow me to take the opportunity of paying homage to the UN Secretary-General, whose unremitting efforts we in the EU wholeheartedly support and which have now produced fresh proposals for a global settlement that have been submitted to the parties concerned.

We have always expressed a clear preference for the entry of a unified Cyprus into the EU, even though the Helsinki conclusions did not make that a prerequisite for accession.

This is a promising turn of events and we call on the parties not to let slip this historic opportunity. The EU has already said that it is ready to take on board any comprehensive settlement and accommodate the terms of the settlement in the accession negotiations with Cyprus.

Looking beyond the 2004 horizon, we have Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. For the first two countries the way ahead is already mapped out. For Turkey it is less well charted.

As you know, the Commission's report on Turkey's progress in preparing for accession applied the same approach and criteria as for all the other candidate countries.

The report was objective and not disputed by anyone. It notes the progress made by Turkey but by the same token it also points out the shortcomings.

It will be up to the Copenhagen European Council to take a decision.

The Commission, for its part, has already pledged to offer an enhanced pre-accession package in 2003 with more money.

The prospect of accession has already pushed Turkey to modernise. We must continue to provide the stimulus that can only benefit the country and its chances of accession.

Dear friends from the candidate countries,

It has not been long since many of you tore down the iron curtain and looked to the EU's integration project. What can you expect of the EU?

First and foremost, peace. This is the oldest and now ever more relevant reason for coming together. It is the most important reason, because nothing can be built without peace and security.

Next comes democracy. Something that we all too often take for granted. But here in this Chamber there are people who have sacrificed much in the fight to achieve it.

We should never forget that democracy must not be taken for granted; it has to be constantly defended and renewed.

Finally we come to the opportunities for prosperity opened up in the EU. We are becoming the largest single market in the world. An area where the innovative and entrepreneurial abilities of all our citizens can be given free rein.

This prosperity goes hand in hand with solidarity. And although enlargement brings in its wake radical political and institutional changes, the underlying principles do not change. Solidarity will always be Europe's hallmark.

Together we can play an active role in this globalising world. Singly, we would be at the mercy of irresistible forces. Only if we pull together can we hope to harness these global developments.

Honourable members and friends,

I mentioned earlier that the EU has already moulded the civil and political development of central and southern Europe. This is true, but only half the story.

The candidate countries are already influencing the life of the EU and are making their voices heard. We are listening to them at the Convention on the future of Europe and we shall listen to them in the debate today.

In 2004 they will be taking their places as full members and I have high hopes of them. The representatives of people who were able to bring about such drastic changes in a few short years cannot fail to spur us forward with their courage and reforming spirit.

The hope that inspires these men and women will give a new impetus to our institutions.

They will usher in a new spring that will green our great European project.

Thank you