Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-01-14-Speech-2-147"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-01-14"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Work programme of the Greek Presidency2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20030114.5.2-147"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-01-14-Speech-2-1482
lpv:speaker	lp:Frank Vanhecke2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (2002-02-07--2003-06-04)3 member; NA (2001-10-03--2003-06-04)3 member; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (2002-01-17--2003-06-04)3 unknown; Vlaams Blok (1999-07-20--2003-06-04)3 substitute; AGRI (2002-02-05--2003-06-04)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Lithuania Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2003-06-04)3
lpv:translated text	"The next few years, and certainly the next few decades, will be of great significance to all European people, but primarily to the European Union. The Greek Presidency must therefore not simply be allowed to be the umpteenth routine presidency. After all, Greece is, more than any other country in Europe, best placed both from a political and historical point of view to use the presidency to readdress the issue of the absurdity of Turkey’s candidature. I will say it again now: Turkey is not a European country, it does not belong to our European community of peoples, either geographically or historically or as far as its socio-economic situation and culture are concerned. It goes without saying that we must maintain the very best relations with our Turkish neighbours, and that we can maintain the best possible trading and other relations where applicable. To give this country a prospect of acceding to the European Union is, however, complete madness. It will throw the door wide open to a massive tidal wave of immigration, and will in particular fundamentally change the nature of the European Union itself, a union that with the best will in the world will not be able to call itself European any more. The Greek Presidency is being given an historic opportunity here. Take the initiative, for example, or suggest holding a referendum on Turkey’s candidature in all our European countries. Why should the electorates of democracies not have their say on something that is so crucial to our very existence? If you do not, my party in Flanders will turn the European elections in 2004 into a referendum on Turkey’s accession. It is striking that the German Christian-Democrats are also more or less announcing the same thing. If the Greek Presidency fails to take this opportunity – which will probably be the case – you will be taking on a very great responsibility, and the Turkish question may become a divisive element that could bring the house of Europe crashing down around our ears."@en1

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