Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-19-Speech-2-088"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20021119.2.2-088"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, we are now approaching the crucial date. In 23 days’ time in Copenhagen, we shall hopefully conclude the accession negotiations with 10 candidate countries, give impetus to the negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania and take a decision about the next phase of Turkey’s candidacy. In that way, we shall approach the objective towards which we have been striving, namely a single, reunified Europe.
The Copenhagen European Council will not just concern itself with the 10 countries concerned. Important decisions concerning Bulgaria and Romania, which still have some way to go, will also have to be taken.
In Brussels, clear support was expressed for these countries’ efforts to achieve membership by 2007. In response to the conclusions from Brussels, the Copenhagen European Council will have to make decisions concerning detailed timetables, including schedules and increased pre-accession aid, so that the accession process involving these countries can be taken forward. The decisions taken in Copenhagen will, then, be designed to strengthen Bulgaria’s and Romania’s membership prospects.
With regard to Turkey, the Commission concludes that, since the last progress report, great progress has been made towards fulfilling the political Copenhagen criterion. That is a gratifying development that must be maintained. Developments in Turkey over the last year show that the decision taken in Helsinki in 1999, when Turkey was accorded the status of a candidate country, was a correct one.
At the same time, it is noted that there is still work to be done on the road towards fulfilling the political Copenhagen criterion. In order further to increase its membership prospects, Turkey was encouraged by the Commission to adopt further reforms and to implement those already adopted. In view of the Seville conclusions, the Copenhagen European Council will be the key moment in the development of relations between the EU and Turkey. That is why it is important to keep all the doors open in the run-up to the decision to be taken in 23 days’ time in Copenhagen.
I should like to conclude by thanking Parliament for its clear and unqualified support for enlargement, expressed this morning and reflected in the report submitted. It will also be reflected in the forthcoming debate. Parliament has been involved in establishing the background against which the whole of the enlargement debate will take place. It is of course MEPs’ and the people’s support that is so fundamental to the enlargement process. We must ensure that this is maintained by creating the framework for a thorough and sober debate on enlargement, both in our own countries and in the new Member States. The European Parliament’s debates on enlargement have an important role to play. It is in the course of these that the signals are sent to the people of Europe concerning the significance of the decisions we are to take. That is why I should like again to thank Parliament and the President personally, and also Commissioner Verheugen, for the huge amount of work done by the institutions of the European Union on various fronts.
That is something which, today, we have anticipated. We have carried out a trial run, and it emerged that having such a large Parliament with MEPs from 27 countries present here in Parliament is perfectly possible, as is the task of interpreting into 23 languages, as has been done. Many doubters must now recognise that these things are perfectly possible.
It was an historic event we experienced this morning, and I think Parliament deserves to be applauded for having in this way demonstrated what we shall all be embarking upon in a year and a half’s time, as well as for having demonstrated that the process is feasible and for having in this way helped make the whole process irrevocable, so that there is no way back.
Yesterday was also historic in a way, however. Yesterday, a ministerial meeting was, for the first time, held in Brussels with the participation of all 25 Member States. It was, of course, an informal meeting. It took place directly before the ordinary meeting of the General Affairs Council, and what we decided was of course what we had discussed with the new Member States. We agreed, for example, that the new countries should accede on 1 May 2004. That will provide time for the ratification of the accession treaty and, at the same time, enable the new Member States to participate on an equal footing in the elections to the European Parliament. It was also agreed that they will be able to have their own Commissioners in the present Commission as from the date of accession, that is to say from 1 May 2004. This naturally presupposes an understanding with this Parliament to the effect that 10 Commissioners will be able to accede without portfolios and, presumably, without being approved by Parliament, its being specified however that, when the new Commission is appointed, presumably as per 1 November, all the Commissioners will naturally have, as always, to be approved by Parliament, which by that time will have been newly elected.
We must particularly express our thanks, and demonstrate our respect, for the candidate countries’ contributions. They have done an impressive piece of work in adjusting to all the criteria we have set. That, as I understand it, is also the message of the report we are today debating. The Copenhagen criteria have been the yardstick for measuring the countries’ political and economic reforms. Radical reforms have been carried out. Democratic structures have been developed. Legislation has been introduced to protect human rights, and major progress has been made where minorities are concerned. In the economic sphere, there has been an impressive transition from the planned economies of the past to market economies. Price formation has been liberalised, privatisations have been carried out and there has been comprehensive restructuring within industry, agriculture and the financial sector. Public administration has been reformed so that the EU’s acquis communautaire can be implemented.
When one considers how much effort has been expended in every single one of these areas, one cannot help but admire the candidate countries. That is why we must not disappoint their justified expectations of now shortly being able to become fully-fledged members. This impressive progress can be read about in the Commission’s progress report and strategy paper for enlargement, submitted on 9 October. These described all 10 countries, and the Commission judged that the latter are ready to pursue membership.
Before they become Member States, however, further efforts are of course required. The Commission has not said that the work has been done and that they are ready. It has said that they can be ready in time. As a reaction to the Commission’s progress reports, the candidate countries have clearly intimated that they will step up their efforts in those areas pointed out by the Commission, and these efforts will be supported with EU funds.
Some work remains to be done in the accession negotiations. The Brussels European Council took a number of important decisions concerning the outstanding financial issues. Intense negotiations are currently being conducted with the candidate countries on these matters. Clearly, moreover, a successful outcome demands both effort and a willingness to compromise on the part of everyone involved – the present, as well as the future, Member States. We are all aware that a certain economic framework has been set, but there is naturally room for negotiation within this framework.
The concluding of the negotiations in Copenhagen in 23 days’ time will be an incredible breakthrough. There will then follow the work of preparation, signature and ratification. Parliament will have to give its consent before the treaty can be signed, and Parliament’s statement to the effect that it wishes to approve the treaty as quickly as possible merely illustrates once again Parliament’s role as a driving force for rapid enlargement."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples