Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-12-15-Speech-3-008"
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"en.20041215.2.3-008"2
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".
Mr President, the forthcoming European Council in Brussels will be the first for the new Commission. It will be an important meeting, marking the next steps in the process of building a larger, more prosperous and safer European Union. It will be a sign of our ambition for a Union which is dynamic and on the move; a Union ready to share its destiny with the European family; a Union which is concerned about the security of its citizens.
We should also ask our Turkish friends in all honesty: if you want to become a member of a club, is it not normal that you recognise the other members of the club? I am convinced that this will come at the right moment in the course of this difficult process, and preferably sooner than later.
The objective of starting negotiations cannot be other than accession but we accept that the accession process is open-ended and its outcome cannot be guaranteed beforehand. As in the past, transitional arrangements and certain specific safeguards may need to be considered. But let me state what our ultimate challenge will be: in the end, we need not only to overcome diplomatic obstacles, but also to conquer the hearts and minds of European citizens on this issue.
Croatia represents the first of the Western Balkan nations preparing to start the process for accession to the Union. The Commission is ready to support the launch of such negotiations, but believes that any progress should be conditional on increased cooperation between the Croatian Government and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. If such cooperation is confirmed, then negotiations can be started in 2005.
I would hope that the spirit coming out of the European Council later this week is one of cooperation. How else can we generate the trust in Europe’s institutions and politicians that is needed for a smooth ratification of the Constitution?
We have heard from the presidency about its expectations and the issues that the summit will address. Let me comment briefly on three issues: enlargement, the fight against terrorism and the financial perspectives.
Firstly, our policy of enlargement of the Union has been the key in freeing us from our cold war past. The gravitational pull of the prospect of EU membership has transformed and modernised several post-communist societies. It has thus reshaped the European order. This was and remains an achievement of historic proportions that we should not underestimate. Your House has been instrumental in supporting this process, but our enlargement is still incomplete. This European Council will take the next steps for four countries, offering them the potential – through enlargement – to join the European mainstream.
Last October the Commission made it clear that it should be possible to conclude the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania in 2004. Indeed, this negotiating process was closed yesterday, thanks to the increased efforts by the European Union and by these two countries. I congratulate the Netherlands presidency for its excellent work and close cooperation with the Commission on that particular subject. The Accession Treaty for both countries now needs to be finalised and we hope that it can be signed after receiving the assent of this House during the spring of next year. In the remaining period up to accession, the Commission will be watching closely to see that both countries deliver on the commitments made during the negotiations, and in some cases this will mean a further acceleration in their efforts.
At the request of the European Council, on 6 October the Commission adopted its report on Turkey and a clear recommendation. The main message in the Commission’s assessment is that Turkey has sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and that accession negotiations should now be opened. We consider this recommendation, which was very carefully prepared, to be well balanced and a good basis for a decision by the Council. I am looking forward to taking comfort from the position your House will take on this question later today.
Turkey has made further progress in the last weeks. It has adopted five of the six pieces of legislation signalled by the Commission in its report; the sixth law, on the execution of sentences, is pending before the Turkish Parliament.
It is now time for the European Council to honour its commitment to Turkey and announce the opening of accession negotiations. A clear date should be indicated.
We consider that, apart from the matters I have just mentioned, no other conditions ought to be added. The European Council will no doubt wish to recall that political reforms will have to continue in the course of the negotiations and ask the Commission to monitor further progress closely."@en1
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