Speech from Mr Hans-Gert Poettering,
Chairman of the EPP-ED Group,
in the European Parliament
on Wednesday, 9 October 2002

Enlargement of the European Union



President, President of Council, President of the Commission, Commissioner, Colleagues,

"This is an important debate, because the accession of ten countries in one round is a challenge for the European Union. I therefore regret that this subject of our debate, over the last few days was already in the press. I would like to ask the President of the Commission to make sure that the Parliament is informed first. This is the right order if this debate is going to have any meaning at all. After this very serious point of criticism, I would like to give a word of thanks to the Commissioner Verheugen, President of the Commission and also the former Commissioners Santer and Van den Broeck, because this Commission didn't start at square one.

"We agree to a large extent with the conclusions and with the naming of the ten countries that the Commission is proposing. But the accession countries have still huge efforts to make, and we have every respect for their position after fifty years of Communistic dictatorship and mismanagement. They have already made huge efforts, and that deserves our recognition and respect. A lot remains to be done by the accession countries and by the European Union itself.

"It is important for us not to disappoint the accession countries by putting new conditions on the countries that are going to join, by for example asking for the agricultural policy to be reformed first. This would be betraying the trust of the accession countries and undermining the confidence they place in us. We should try and build confidence in the accession countries and not set up new conditions.

"We have to remind ourselves that this change in Europe would not be possible without Poland and Solidarnosz. I am saying this so nobody forgets. It wouldn't have been possible without John Paul II, the Pope, who said to them: "do not be afraid". This was the powerhouse of the political change in Europe. Nobody should forget that. It was also the basis for the reunification of Germany 12 years ago, it wouldn't have been possible without Poland. We therefore hope that Poland now will be in a position over the next coming months to overcome the problems it still faces in the accession process. We will support the Commission's proposal for direct payment.

"There are still some questions pending that we would like the Czech government to answer. For example, what is the Czech government's position is on equal treatment of people in the European Union. There seems to be some discrimination in the Czech Republic and I think it would be good if the government could respond to that criticism. We hope that Bulgaria and Romania, that are not going to be part of this round, will make further progress, so that in a foreseeable future we will be able to conclude negotiations with these countries as well.

"We think that the Commission's approach to Turkey is correct in not naming any date for the start of negotiations. For our Group I would say that as far as Turkish membership is concerned, we are not of one opinion, and I think that goes for other political groups as well. There is one thing that we do agree on, which is, that Turkey is an important, strategic partner for us, and therefore we have to foster close relations.

"There is the problem of Kaliningrad. I would recommend that in overcoming this tricky problem we must place security in the foreground, as well the security of Lithuania. We have to find flexible arrangements with Russia. As far as the Ukraine is concerned, I would warn people against a new iron curtain between Poland and Ukraine. There are very close regional relationships, and we have to find a basis to guarantee security, but at the same time allow the possibility for people to continue to meet each other.

"In conclusion, if twenty years ago somebody would have said, we could have the membership of Poland and the other countries, and what you were going to pay for that, we would have been prepared to pay any price for them joining. We should be delighted that these countries have now come out in favour of our values, social order, and democracy. Let us welcome our colleagues warmly, when they are elected at the next elections in 2004. This will contribute to a common future of our European continent.

(Translation from the original German)