Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-26-Speech-2-186"
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"en.20060926.23.2-186"2
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".
Mr President, I would like to welcome President Barroso, Commissioner Rehn and President-in-Office Lehtomäki and join with my colleagues in welcoming the very sensible decision on Romanian and Bulgarian accession on 1 January 2007.
Despite all the difficulties, what has actually been achieved in both those countries in the last 12 to 13 years is phenomenal: the change of culture, the change of attitude, the willingness to engage, the openness and transparency. The enormous sea change in legislation alone to comply with the
is something that no existing Member State could achieve in such a short time.
We can speak about the theoretical importance of this enlargement and the abstract and political arguments. But the most important argument of all is for the 7.5 million people in Bulgaria and the 22 million people in Romania to be given the same opportunities that all of us in the European Union have today, which we got when we were weaker or smaller countries or poorer economies with less developed judiciaries or economic and educational spheres.
Of course, there is more work to be done. Ongoing reforms are needed; constant vigilance is necessary against the ability of mankind to interfere with, interrupt or corrode public life. That is why the safeguard clauses are there. But let us celebrate what has been achieved so far.
I have only one small query and that concerns the ongoing difficulties in both countries with abandoned and orphaned children and children and young people with disabilities. They still do not get the levels of support, independence and protection they need.
Many years ago, a greater Irishman than I am said, ‘Nobody or no group has the right to put a stop on the march of a nation’. We do not have the right to stop the reunification of Europe to correct the mistakes of history. Like all good families, we should encourage those within our family who are trying to achieve more to pursue common ideals, goals and standards.
We should welcome Romania and Bulgaria, congratulate their officials, their governments and their people for what they have achieved so far, remember the horrors that they have come through and look forward to the bright future that lies ahead for them and for us."@en1
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