Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-07-06-Speech-3-473"
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"en.20050706.35.3-473"2
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"Mr President, I very much regret that we are having this debate at this time, as it sends a confusing and essentially negative message to the people of Bulgaria. I must say that, as Parliament’s rapporteur on Bulgaria, I was not consulted or even informed about any suggestion that parliamentary observers should be delayed or indeed that some fresh emphasis should be placed on the possibility of delaying Bulgaria’s accession until 2008.
At the last meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels on 21 June, attended by Commissioner Rehn, I asked for and received an assurance of the commitment to the timetable for enlargement, in spite of the failure of the European Constitution. I recall the Commissioner’s words that Bulgaria and Romania were the last enlargement, not the next enlargement. Their accession is guaranteed. The question, perhaps, is when exactly?
We all recognise that much still needs to be done if Bulgaria is to be ready by 2007, but the task is eminently achievable. The one mechanism for delaying accession is the safeguard clause. In the case of Bulgaria, unlike Romania, this would require a unanimous decision of the Council. I see no merit, therefore, in raising any false spectre of delay. I remain optimistic that Bulgaria will accede on 1 January 2007. I have always underlined the need to ensure that each country is dealt with on its own merits and that the fates of Bulgaria and Romania should not be inextricably tied together. It is widely accepted that Bulgaria has fewer problems than Romania. I am only too aware that the elections in Bulgaria on 25 June have produced an unclear result. The process of building a government coalition is urgently under way, with a view to convening the Parliament on 11 July.
The debate tonight merely adds to uncertainty, both in government circles and among the citizens of Bulgaria. They are even beginning to think they are not wanted. I strongly reassured them. What is required in Bulgaria is continuity, stability, commitment and clarity, not uncertainty and negativism.
On the question of the observers – and I hope you will bear with me as the rapporteur for Bulgaria – I agree with the Commissioner and thank him when he says that the arrangements for the observers are a matter for this Parliament. It was confirmed to me in writing just two weeks ago on 16 June by the leader of the PPE-DE Group. He said as follows: ‘The Conference of Presidents has decided on its last meeting to invite the observers from both accession countries Romania and Bulgaria to join the European Parliament for the September II session in Strasbourg’, which means from 26 September onwards.
Observers from last year’s ten accession states had been invited to join us as soon as possible after signature of the Accession Treaty. That is the precedent we should follow. Any other decision would send an unhelpful signal to our Bulgarian and Romanian friends. I very much look forward to welcoming them here in September as observers and as full Members from January 2007."@en1
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