Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-20-Speech-3-036"
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"en.20021120.1.3-036"2
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"Mr President, Vice-President of the Commission, I would like to focus essentially on section 1 of the Commission communication. The Commission has now achieved the major objectives established at the beginning of its term of office – enlargement and the reforms – but I feel that, in the final stage of its term of office, it must do more than just manage and implement what has already been achieved. I feel that the paragraphs entitled ‘Defining the future of Europe’ and ‘Relations with the enlarged EU’s neighbours’ are the key to the realisation that we need to start laying the foundations for the Union’s future political outlook as of now.
After the accession we hope for of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, we must turn our gaze resolutely in three directions: towards Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean. I welcome the openness displayed in the sentence ‘…the Stabilisation and Association process opens perspectives for membership’. I therefore agree with what President Prodi said: we must develop a ring of friends stretching from Russia to Morocco, without excluding the possibility of them acceding to the Union under the same conditions as the other countries which have already become part of it.
This opens horizons for the future which will extend our project even beyond the geographical confines of our continent. While we are preparing to launch the widest and, perhaps, most important enlargement of the Union, we need to be aware of these possibilities. In any case, when Russia accedes to the Union – however far in the future – we will not be able to stipulate that only the part on this side of the Urals can do so, and that will bring great changes, particularly in the way the Union defines itself.
We must therefore see the Union as a ring of concentric circles which are interconnected. This is the way for Europe to continue to keep its soul alive. The day when Europe ceases to concern itself with the countries beyond its borders will be the day when it loses part of its basic
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