Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2009-09-16-Speech-3-210"
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"en.20090916.17.3-210"2
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"I would like to congratulate Mr Barrot for the European Commission’s position on liberalising the visa regime for the Western Balkans. As Foreign Minister at the time when visa requirements for Bulgaria were lifted, I know the great emotional effect the visa waiver and ending of humiliation had on our citizens. At the same time, however, as an MEP, I cannot but agree with Mrs Pack and Mrs Bildt that true European solidarity involves the European Union providing logistical help in meeting criteria rather than deviating from them, as this has a demoralising effect on societies and absolves governments of responsibility.
The change must come as a reward for the effort put in, not as a double standard. The societies of the Western Balkans have to get used to demanding their governments to do their job. They must know that the visa regime is being delayed not because of European nit-picking, but because they have not done their bit. Solidarity should be given in return for taking responsibility. When a position of principle is at stake, a person’s religion and ethnicity do not matter."@en1
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