Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-13-Speech-3-021"
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"en.20020313.2.3-021"2
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"Mr President, the EU Convention comes at a very important moment in the life of the European Union. The Laeken Declaration made clear both the extent of the achievements of the European Union over the past 45 years and the scale of the challenges which it now faces.
The debate we are holding here today relates to the enlargement of the European Union. The enthusiasm and determination of the candidate countries seeking to join the EU provide the clearest proof that the European Union is an enormous success story. I very much welcome the participation of representatives from the parliaments of the applicant countries in the Convention and look forward to the fresh insight they will bring to its workings.
Institutional reform goes hand-in-hand with the enlargement of the European Union. The regulations and directives enacted through the three decision-making procedures in Europe must be streamlined and simplified.
The Göteborg European Council decided that those applicant countries which are ready to join the European Union may complete accession negotiations by the end of this year. The goal of admitting new members into the European Union by 2004 is still a very ambitious one, but it is not a pipe dream. The enlargement of the Union is the number one policy priority of all key European Union legislators.
Our resolve and courage at these enlargement negotiations must match those which the candidate countries themselves are showing in enacting wide-ranging new laws as they prepare to join the European Union as full members.
The Spanish Presidency is now dealing with the most difficult enlargement negotiations, notably agriculture, the structural funds and budgetary matters. I am confident that both sides can reach agreement on these chapters of the talks and reach a conclusion that is – and must be – fair and balanced.
The applicant countries have made substantial progress in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, with regard both to the transposition of legislation and to the implementation of new European regulations and directives covering a wide range of economic and social sectors. The significant advances made by the applicant countries in terms of enacting new EU legislation have certainly ensured that the enlargement negotiations can proceed at a stronger pace.
Undoubtedly, substantial progress has been made in increasing the independence, transparency and efficiency of public administrations in the applicant countries, as well as in improving the operation of their legal systems. Efficient public administrations are necessary not only to enact new EU laws completely, but also to ensure that the Community's financial resources are used effectively.
This year will undoubtedly be a decisive one for the enlargement process and for the future of Europe. This institution will work very closely with the Spanish and Danish presidencies of the Union to ensure that enlargement negotiations are a success. We will have to show the same determination as in the past in order to find constructive answers. I believe that this House has the goodwill and determination to do just that."@en1
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