Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-27-Speech-3-196"
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"en.19991027.7.3-196"2
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"Mr President, the major projects that we are continually occupied with in this House such as enlargement and reforming the institutions of the European Union are evidence of how vital and ambitious the European Union is. Fortunately, these major projects have not produced a Union that is in any way, shape or form turned in on itself. On the contrary, the EU is taking its responsibilities towards the rest of the world more seriously than ever.
Drawing up a common strategy vis à vis the Russian Federation is one example of this. The fact that it is one of partnership and cooperation is regarded as a miracle by the Cold War generation even now. It is an expression of the Union’s self-confidence. In building strategic partnerships of this kind the Union is showing itself to be an authority that is able to take the lead in preventing and resolving serious international problems.
The document that the Council has produced is aimed above all at fostering the development of the Russian Federation as a democratic constitutional state with a well-functioning social market economy. In fact this approach strongly resembles the policy that we are pursuing with regard to the candidate countries. It comes as no surprise that there is talk of how vital it is for shared values to form the basis of such relationships. That is why it is really astounding that it is often still difficult to send experienced managers from EU Member States out to candidate countries and to the Russian Federation. I think the Commission’s services ought to be very careful in their dealings with all those who want to do so.
It is also in our interests to ensure that Russia is given the opportunity to maintain former trade relations with the applicant countries. That is also a sore point of course. The candidate countries themselves sometimes fear losing markets in Russia, some of which they have already lost.
The lesson we have learnt in the course of the enlargement dialogue is that prosperity and security are not brought about first and foremost by attempts to introduce a market economy, but by establishing a democratic constitutional state. If this is not in place then the business community is certainly in no hurry to invest in the country concerned. In pursuing the establishment of a market economy we are therefore going to have to remain alert to the grave mistakes that can be made when companies are privatised. For that matter, having a halfway house situation as far as the old state of affairs and legislation are concerned can also lead to serious abuses taking place, with a few people getting rich, many being reduced to poverty and the importance of the common good as a political value being forgotten.
It is therefore appropriate for the leading elite in the Russian Federation to take a critical and common sense attitude. We must ensure that our financial assistance does not help corruption to flourish. What it must do is foster the integrity of public administration and a sense of responsibility on the part of the citizens, employers and employees. Markets are destroyed by corruption. A good partnership also has responsibilities towards third parties. The Russian Federation has itself already demanded this where the former Yugoslavia is concerned. Opinion differs in this House as to the quality of the Russian contribution towards settling the various conflicts there. Power is sometimes regarded as a hindrance rather than a help. It is also strange that foreign policy should be spurred on by ethnic preferences.
Now that there is so much unrest in the Caucasus, Russia, in its turn, can also expect to receive a great deal of attention from the European Union. I warmly applaud the fact that this subject has been so central to our discussions. Now that we have two points of contact, Mr Patten and Mr Solana, the EU can head an international campaign for the Caucasus. Mr Wiersma has already written a praiseworthy article on this in the Dutch press.
On a final note, let us as a European Union endeavour to encourage Russia to use other means to bring an end to the unrest that has been stirred up in its neighbouring countries due to the situation in Chechnya. In so doing, let us also recognise that Chechen leaders are not the most salubrious of types and do not represent a democratic constitutional state. But in any case, let us, as a European Union, embrace the Russian desire to secure multipolarity in the spirit in which it is intended."@en1
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