Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-23-Speech-3-050"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-10-23"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Preparatory work for the European Council in Brussels on 24-25 October2
dcterms:Language	"sv"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20021023.1.3-050"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-10-23-Speech-3-0512
lpv:speaker	lp:Cecilia Malmström2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Folkpartiet liberalerna (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Latvia Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-04-30)3 substitute; AFCO (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and Mexico (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Delegation to the EU-Hungary Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-06--2004-04-30)3 member_of_the_bureau; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, in two weeks it will be 9 November. This is the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the wall which symbolised the division of Europe, the hostility and the distance between East and West. On that day, we shall celebrate the fact that it is 13 years since the joyful masses clambered over a crumbling wall, and the long journey towards reconciliation and unification began. Now we are almost there. We are approaching our destination. The Commission’s report confirms that ten countries can become members in just over a year. It is a fantastic feeling, but the joy is tempered slightly by a nagging unease. We are getting there. We are approaching the finishing line and are noticing that quite a few of us are becoming nervous. Support for the candidate countries is waning, and several Member States, leading politicians and parties are speaking of waiting or postponing on the grounds that ‘we are not ready’. Internal policy considerations are overshadowing the historic task of unifying Europe for the first time ever; by means of agreements, negotiations and compromise, not by means of threats, tanks or invasion. Of course, many people around Europe are asking themselves questions about how cooperation will work and how it will develop. Difficulties and problems will arise. After all, who believed that it would be easy to unify Europe? This anxiety must be taken seriously, and we must discuss it. We must demonstrate our genuine intention to reform and open up the EU. It is towards this that the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party is working most actively in the Convention – because it has to succeed. We must also become much better at bringing the results of the Convention’s discussions out of the conference rooms in Brussels. Above all, however – and little has been said about this in the debate – it is leadership which is required: from us, from the Commission and from you in the Council. It is deplorable that internal policy considerations, mean-mindedness and populism are what are communicated to our citizens instead of talk of visions, opportunities and Europe’s big chance. We, the politicians, have an enormous responsibility to explain, educate and guide opinion. Forked tongues arouse distrust in our countries and the candidate countries. I hope, therefore, that the Council meeting over the weekend will be crystal clear and unanimous in saying: ‘Yes, you are most welcome.’"@en1

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