Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-13-Speech-1-097"
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"en.20041213.10.1-097"2
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"Mr President, the real question before us is simply ‘What Europe do we want?’ Do we want a simple free-trade zone or do we actually want to build a political Europe destined to play a leading role in the world? It is that question and that question only that the Heads of State or Government must answer on 17 December.
From Council to Council, from summit to summit, crucial decisions for our future have been taken without our Heads of State or Government ever spending a day, or even a few hours, debating the core issues relating to those decisions. This is not an example of our institutions functioning responsibly. We cannot continue to make decisions on the future of our Union on the quiet, almost mechanically, without involving the peoples of Europe in the debates.
We are told today that we have gone too far to turn back, yet at the same time we are told that there will always be time to address this question in ten or fifteen years. This is entirely inconsistent.
I am a committed European and I feel that we must build a political and democratic Europe in which the citizens will finally take part. The more Europe continues to embark on unlimited enlargement, the greater the risk that it will be permanently weakened. One thing that I do know is that the world needs Europe.
The balance of the world depends on Europe’s existence; democracy and peace depend on Europe’s existence. Let us not throw away that chance. Thank you."@en1
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