SPEECH BY JOSE MARIA AZNAR

PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN
AT THE XIIITH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (EPP)

Brussels, 4 February, 1999

Mr. President, dear Wilfried,
EPP friends,

It is a great pleasure to take part in this Congress today in the presence of the whole European People's Party.

I want to take this opportunity to set out some ideas which might serve as the basis for the future direction of our political movement. The European elections are very close. The outcome of these elections will determine the composition of the European Parliament with which we will enter a new century.

In these new times, Europe must play its role in an era of globalisation. A leading role, in accordance with its history.

THE EURO

The birth of the euro, less than two months ago, was an event of global significance. The scale of the event extends well beyond the economic sphere.

I emphasise to this Congress: by establishing the euro the Member States of the European Union have shown themselves to possess the courage and the foresight that is needed to face the future.

We have taken a large step towards political union. We have pooled a central element of national sovereignty.

We have given up a historic symbol. We have acted without bias and with the necessary mutual confidence.

We have before us an enormous opportunity. A new age for Europe begins. And this new situation obliges us to make preparations for our common destiny.

The European People's Party has to play a new role. Therefore I want today to speak of our future.

THE FOUNDERS

Firstly, I must give credit where it is due and remind you that the European venture is the work of several generations.

We should not forget those who took the first, most difficult steps, those who were the visionaries.

And we cannot above all forget their goals and their values: peace in Europe, but not just peace in the conventional sense but one characterised instead by a concern for the protection of human dignity, justice, shared prosperity, solidarity, and the European model of society.

The future of Europe invites us to change and to grow stronger. Change also means uniting and advancing. We cannot remain passive or look backwards with nostalgia.

As Jean Monnet said in his memoirs, "Those who do not want to undertake anything because they are not sure that it will go the way they want are condemned to stagnation".

DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED OF THE FUTURE

As we all know, the fall of the Berlin Wall began a new historical era for Europe and the world.

Globalisation, technological progress, and economic and political integration are revolutionising the lives of our people and their relations with each other.

We must look upon these new circumstances as new opportunities, rather than as threats to our standard of living. Fear leads to paralysis or slows down our necessary reactions.

We are ready to redouble our efforts to secure greater freedom, a profounder sense of well-being, and a higher standard of living in the European Union.

We are ready to extend these values and these aims to other people in Europe who wish to share their future with us.

These challenges force us to face up to our responsibilities. Recalling our history, we must come to terms with the need to renew ourselves. This is the task that awaits us.

A renewal, first of all, of the EPP.

EUROPEAN PARTY

In this new era the European People's Party must take a step in the direction of the Governments and institutions of the Union.


I propose that we should move towards a bigger political community of parties on the European stage.

I propose that we draw closer together, meeting more frequently and with greater vigour. And put in place the new policies that most of our voters are calling for.

I want us to improve our political work. I propose that we invite young people to help with our tasks; that we try to improve the political communication between our respective national committees; that we give a larger role to the women who belong to our organisations; and that we enter into direct contact with those organisations which represent civil society at the European level.

This Congress marks the enlargement of the EPP. The integration of the EUCD (European Union of Christian Democrats) into the EPP has been accomplished.

Many parties from the applicant states will from now on take part in our activities with still greater intensity.

As people's parties of the centre we have a majority vocation: we want to govern in our countries and in the European Union with a forward-looking programme of reform.

The EPP must be the large party of the centre, staking its future on reform and on the rejection of nationalism and protectionism. A European party open to the future, capable of responding to new demands of our fellow-citizens.

This Europe must find answers commanding popular support without resorting to xenophobia or discrimination.

Ours must be a reformist party that promotes policies free of prejudice and fear to obtain what we want: greater European influence in an interdependent world.

TOWARDS THE ELECTORAL PROGRAMME

We must prepare for the European elections in June. Let this our thirteenth Congress be marked by a will to win. Let me suggest to you, to secure our victory, some principles which have underpinned our moral outlook and our political success:

1° The individual must be at the centre of political action. The dignity of the human being is the essential precondition of fundamental rights.

2° We believe that the future of Europe is as a society of opportunity. A fairer community is one which gives wider opportunities to all. We are convinced that a society not characterised by solidarity is not worth living in.

3° Education and employment are the key to making a reality of an opportunity society and to securing Europe's future.

4° Young Europeans must view the world with tolerance, backed by the memory of a long history of civilisation in common. European universities have to be open centres of culture and innovation. The mobility of teachers and students is the best expression of a knowledge-based Europe.

5° Employment is the only certain way of providing opportunities for all. We want full employment. We must do everything to help the unemployed. A reformist model entails changes in employment policy in view of the new needs of the market.

6° A fundamentally strong society is marked by technological innovation and the new role of women. Real equality of opportunity between man and women is essential. Women must assume greater levels of leadership in public life and in our parties.

7° We support the role of civil society, in which active and responsible people undertake projects which involve others. We need to promote the spirit of enterprise and creativity.

8° We are determined to promote a welfare-based society. Solidarity among the people and the generations is a condition of survival for a community. The solidarity pact includes pensions, the health service, and a conscientious attitude to the environment.

9° The family is fundamental to the maintenance of social cohesion and to the transmission of the basic values of our civilisation. We must put forward policies which allow the claims of family and professional life to be reconciled.

10° An open and diverse Europe entails social integration. Opportunities must be available to the most vulnerable: to the disabled and to those living on the margin.

11° In the years to come we must take up the challenge to work for a more open and more united Europe. Internal reforms are essential for the future of our countries. We need open, competitive societies, properly adapted to the world in which we live.

The next historical step is enlargement. Europe is a reference point for those who cherish the ideas of freedom and modernisation. Therefore we are very sympathetic to the countries now seeking admission to the Union.

12° Let us undertake these large projects without large administrations. The State must not assume the role of society but rather promote its development, so that we can take full advantage of all its potentialities.

13° The Union has a particular responsibility in the protection of rights and freedoms. We must bring about the full establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice.

14° The richest regions have a duty to fight poverty. We are living in a single global society as never before.

Development cooperation and open access for products of the Third World are the driving forces of a sincere and effective aid policy.

Dear friends,

These values and goals, in my opinion, will be found very useful as determinants of our political action in the years to come.

Because we must also renew our political action. The next elections to the European Parliament are a good opportunity to promote our political convergence.

We must make great efforts to be the majority force in Europe.

Therefore it is essential that we renew. We are more necessary than ever before. The European People's Party has to opt for a policy of reform from the centre.

In politics, the human will - not passivity and conformism - is what determines the course of events.

Our opportunity is to reinforce that slogan that speaks of the EPP as the heart of Europe.

For this reason, the EPP must be ready to face the future. You may count on our full support.