Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-05-16-Speech-2-210"
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"en.20060516.35.2-210"2
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"Mr President, every time we discuss the issue of enlargement, we touch upon the historical dimension of our work. For the Union, each enlargement represents not only a formal celebration, but a necessity and an opportunity.
A significant problem posed by enlargement is the way in which it is perceived by the outside world, as it is easy to calculate the costs of aid transferred to new, usually poorer countries. However, this image is far from complete. One cannot see the extent to which enlargement can boost trade and investment and create opportunities for modernisation. Without enlargement we would not be able to boast today that we, as the European Parliament, are the point of contact for 450 million citizens. There would be 75 million fewer of us and Europe would be a correspondingly smaller player on the global stage, which we so eagerly aspire to appear on today.
The greatest political lie being spread across Europe today by has-been politicians who did not succeed at home is to accuse the enlargement process of causing all the problems we currently face. The opposite is the case. The consequences of a lack of reform would be all the more serious were it not for enlargement. That is why I enthusiastically greet the prospect of two new Member States joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania, which have reformed their national political culture with much effort over the last few years.
As a Member from Poland, a country that owes a lot to the European Union’s aid policy in recent years, I am enthusiastic about the prospects for membership of these two new countries, although we will soon have to share our dwindling Union budget. As a Polish Member, I would also advise you to pay no heed to the warnings issued by Mr Cohn-Bendit. It is difficult to believe advice concerning enlargement that comes from someone with as little knowledge of other Member States, such as Poland, which has been a Member State for two years. Perhaps political emotions impair the ability to rationally assess the new Polish Government. However, Mr Cohn-Bendit, we must be careful with our emotions, or we may say something foolish.
Sometimes one could get the impression that the doors of the Union are closing like the doors of a lift, and that extra passengers are having difficulty squeezing through them. I hope that that is either an illusion, or a temporary fault in this lift called the European Union, as I would not want anyone to travel in a lift whose doors do not open."@en1
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