Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-04-Speech-3-045"
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".
Mr Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr President of the Commission, ladies and gentlemen, first I should like to thank the President of the European Parliament, President Prodi and a great many of the speakers for the kind terms in which they referred to the efforts made by the Presidency over the past six months in order to deal with a series of very important issues, and also to thank you for your personal comments.
This is the last day the Greek Presidency and I personally shall attend the European Parliament. We still have about three weeks, which covers our programme, and I have also noted the points in which there is particular interest in our making a last effort, so that we can see if we can resolve matters which have been outstanding for some time. As far as issues relating to the Presidency's review and developments on a series of issues which are not so closely connected with Thessaloniki are concerned, that is the job of the Prime Minister, Mr Simitis, and is scheduled for 1 July. Ladies and gentlemen, I shall refer briefly to the three issues – and perhaps a few others – to which I referred in connection with Thessaloniki.
First of all, the issue of the western Balkans. Yes, indeed, it is very important to the Balkans to receive a political message from the European Union, that there is support for their European prospects, that they will be assisted in their European prospects, that they too must make a series of efforts and reforms if they are to move forward successfully, and that we are close by and we have their course towards integration in prospect. Our Presidency considers that the Balkans are not some far off place. They are in Europe, which is why it is very important for the European Union to treat this fragile region with care. Consequently, we want the outcome of the meeting to give impetus to the integration procedure, to signal policies and, of course, for there to be appropriate funding to support the efforts of these countries in moving forward. We all know about the tragic incident involving the prime minister of Serbia, Mr Djindjic, a few months ago. At least one might say that one positive element to come out of this tragic development was that it woke people up. There is greater understanding and effort on numerous sides.
As far as the issues of immigration are concerned, this is a huge problem for Europe which, if not overshadowed by political developments concerning Iraq over the last six months, will continue to be a heavyweight issue, as it was at the end of the last Presidency. Nonetheless, we believe that it is a major issue, irrespective of political developments. Efforts must be made. We are also expecting initiatives from the Commission and Council this month, so that we can see what else can be done. We must strike a balance between immigrants living in the European area legally and our societies. We must find ways of dealing with the problem of illegal immigration and fears in society. However, we must also find funding methods for dealing with these problems.
Of course, major reference was made, and logically so, to the issue of the Convention, which will be a top issue at the summit. Indeed, Thessaloniki will be important for this issue and we, the Greek Presidency, want it to be a success. Laeken signalled the prospects and terms within which the Convention must act. In Thessaloniki, if we act appropriately, we will achieve a satisfactory result, which is important to the future of Europe and European integration and we hope that the time left until then will be used by all players so that we can safeguard this productive result.
I should like to close by saying that, a few months after the start of the Greek Presidency, Europe was at a very important and different stage. We are an area with 25 Member States. We are an area which, for the last two or three years, has a single currency. We are a union which has progressed and realised the need for institutional changes, which sees it needs a stronger presence in the field of foreign policy and defence. What has happened in the meantime, during these months, has been catalytic for these issues. We are a Europe which is now discussing new policies, such as the so-called Wider Europe New Neighbourhood policy, the issues of the Balkans, of the Mediterranean, of the Middle East, the issues of economic intergovernmentalism and immigration. All these mark ... or rather give a different bearing for the course of Europe. We are an area which, I believe, within all this, must create conditions for confidence in the future of this area in its citizens, conditions for confidence in democracy and human rights, conditions for confidence in social achievements, employment, growth and, in general, conditions for confidence in our ability to respond to the serious problems of our societies.
I can see, within this philosophy, the answers which must be given by us by the end of this month and, of course, by subsequent Presidencies from next month onwards."@en1
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