Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-17-Speech-3-230"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-11-17"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Treaty reform/next IGC2
dcterms:Language	"sv"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19991117.7.3-230"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-11-17-Speech-3-2312
lpv:speaker	lp:Cecilia Malmström2
lpv:spokenAs	member; AFCO (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Folkpartiet liberalerna (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 vice-chair; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Latvia Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 member_of_the_bureau; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, when, on 9 November 1989, freedom-loving people climbed over the Iron Curtain, history was changed dramatically. It finally became possible to unify Europe and to create a broad, pan-European partnership, founded upon freedom and democracy. A week ago, we commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tenth anniversary reminded us that it is high time that we got to grips with the enlargement of the European Union and sped up the process. It has already taken far too long. For us liberals, there is nothing more important than creating a unified Europe in which we solve problems together in a civilised way. Enlargement of the EU is a moral imperative. Enlargement, but also the fact that our citizens have a crisis of confidence in the EU, are factors which demand reforms of, and changes to, the European institutions. All too many people feel that the EU does not engage hearts and minds. The mistrust is sometimes almost palpable. We need to take this state of affairs very seriously. The Intergovernmental Conference ought therefore to have the ambition of thoroughly reforming the EU institutions. Simplification, openness, clarity and public scrutiny must be the watchwords. If a Union of 30 members is going to be able to function, it must concentrate on the genuinely cross-border questions and only act in those areas where European cooperation produces the best results. A careful review of the division of labour is required, and this will require courage and a willingness to roll up our sleeves and set to work, in other words vision but also pragmatism. The debate ought not however to be carried on in isolation behind closed doors. All democratic forces must be involved and citizens must have the opportunity to participate and say their piece. They are entitled to expect results and also to demand that they be achieved. If we fail in this, they may perhaps turn away from the European project, which would be a major catastrophe."@en1

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