Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-12-04-Speech-3-033"
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"en.20021204.3.3-033"2
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Mr President, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, in 1993, the Copenhagen European Council set in motion the current enlargement process, the largest-scale enlargement in the Union's history. Almost ten years on, we are nearing the end of that process. At the end of next week, the Heads of State and Government will be back in the Danish capital to take the final decisions.
I would also like to comment on the latest developments regarding the conclusion of the negotiations with Cyprus. As you know, the European Union has always backed the endeavours of the United Nations Secretary-General and, in the last few weeks Kofi Annan has taken the courageous initiative of putting forward a plan for a global settlement. That plan has our full backing. The reactions of the parties concerned have, on the whole, been positive. They have accepted these proposals as an appropriate basis for a settlement and, in the next few days, they will respond with their proposals. We hope these contributions will allow Mr Kofi Annan to make more progress towards a solution. We have already formally stated that we are ready to take account of the terms of such a settlement in the accession arrangements for Cyprus, and we will endeavour to do so if such an agreement is reached. In any case, the commitments entered into at Helsinki remain valid for the candidacy of Cyprus.
As regards Bulgaria and Romania, the Copenhagen European Council will have to adopt the Commission's proposals for detailed roadmaps, including precise timetables and increased pre-accession assistance, in order to take the accession process forward. As you know, these two countries have proposed 2007 as their target date for accession and the Commission believes no effort must be spared to achieve that target.
Lastly, a word about Turkey. This House has already had occasion to debate the issue at length. For my part, I want to state our position once more, in particular in the light of contacts Commissioner Verheugen and I have had recently with the leader of the AKP, Mr Erdogan. On the basis of the Helsinki Conclusions, the Commission regards Turkey as a candidate on an equal footing with other candidate countries, and therefore as subject to exactly the same assessment criteria. The report the Commission presented on Turkey in October was based on objective information that no one disputed. It noted Turkey's progress towards meeting the Copenhagen political criteria. It also noted the remaining difficulties. In short, Turkey has come a long way but much remains to be done. The new Turkish Government's legislative programme confirms this. Indeed, the government plans to present several series of legislative measures, and even constitutional amendments, to the Turkish parliament in order to bolster democracy and human rights in Turkey.
The European Union must encourage this process. It is in our interest that a major partner such as Turkey, whose role is enormously important strategically, politically and economically, should reinforce its institutions, improve the quality of its democracy and commit itself unequivocally to the values and principles we all share. On the other hand, before we take an irreversible step, we must be sure that Turkey meets all the conditions fully, just as we have in the case of the other candidate countries.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the prospect of approaching membership of the Union has given millions of Europeans a new political and economic perspective. Above all it has given them hope. Hope is the rarest and most valuable commodity in politics. History has not been kind to these peoples recently, but now they have the hope of a better future – a future of dignity, freedom and prosperity. I am certain that this hope will carry the Union forward for many years to come and that, together with the governments and peoples of the incoming Member States, we will achieve great things.
What is on the agenda at Copenhagen? Basically three points. The negotiations need to be wound up with the ten candidate countries named in the Commission's report of last October, the pre-accession strategy to help Bulgaria and Romania speed up their preparations for membership needs to be strengthened and a decision is needed on the next steps in Turkey's candidacy. I will expand on these three points today.
First, however, let me say something about the decisions we must take to organise the three great changes which will take place in 2004: the accession of the new Member States, the appointment of the new Commission and the European Parliament elections. We can now establish the heavy schedule of political and institutional events in 2004 in the light of the reflections taking place in Parliament on how to organise the various deadlines related to the arrival of the new Member countries and the European elections. I think the recommendations we are getting from the Council can, if necessary, be revised and supplemented to accommodate Parliament's specific needs in the best way possible.
I suggest we organise things in the most practical order and, where the Treaty is silent, that we use common sense. Politically, it is highly significant that the European elections should be at the centre of the institutional activities related to enlargement. The new Parliament will open its doors immediately to the new Member States' elected representatives, who will come in as full members of this House, and it will thus be able to approve the appointment of the new body of Commissioners legitimately, and they will take office as soon as possible.
How is the Copenhagen Summit shaping up in terms of the main point on the agenda – enlargement? The Brussels European Council brought agreement within the Union on the broad outlines of the offer to the ten candidate countries, in particular as regards the agricultural and budgetary issues. The European Council's conclusions were presented immediately to the Heads of State and Government of the candidate countries, who reacted favourably to them on the whole. Nonetheless, many issues still have to be resolved before an agreement acceptable to all concerned can be reached. The Presidency of the Council and the Commission have worked – and will continue to work – ceaselessly to reach an agreement.
Without going into detail on the discussions under way, I will outline some of the main points. Firstly, we need to find a suitable way of respecting a principle we all agree on. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 the net amounts received by the candidate countries from the European Union should not be lower than those they receive in 2003. Secondly, the candidate countries need assistance to prepare better for the task of controlling the Union's external borders. This means enabling them to carry out their tasks under Schengen properly. Lastly, we need to solve certain specific points relating to the agricultural policy.
First and foremost, the Commission fully supports the Danish Presidency in its efforts to reach the necessary compromise on all these matters. Some Member States have expressed reservations regarding the substance of the offer to the candidate countries. We, however, do not share their view. Like the President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Rasmussen, I consider that a reasonable offer should be made – an offer that allows the candidate countries to defend the Copenhagen outcome before public opinion in their own countries. We must keep within the overall framework laid down at the Brussels European Council, but openness, flexibility and generosity are also needed.
Secondly, last week, I appealed publicly to the leaders of the candidate countries to show realism in this last lap of the negotiations. Indeed, I note that many points are still unresolved and we have only a few days left. We are skating on thin ice and progress must be made. There are times in history when narrow sectoral interests, however legitimate, must give way before the general interest. That is the law of democracy and we must apply it. I want to reiterate earnestly that most of the points of the final compromise must be decided at the forthcoming General Affairs Council meeting on 9 and 10 December. We cannot leave the Copenhagen European Council to decide on dozens and dozens of details.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, before this House, I appeal to the good sense of the leaders of the candidate countries and the leaders of the Fifteen. The remaining difficulties must be settled quickly in the same spirit of partnership and friendship that has presided over all the accession negotiations."@en1
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