Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-06-15-Speech-4-087"
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"en.20000615.3.4-087"2
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"Mr President, there seems to be a trial of strength going on behind the scenes, during preparations for next week’s Feira European Council, between those who want to extend the Intergovernmental Conference agenda and those who want to cut it.
That split conceals another: the first group includes the supporters of a great federalist leap forward and realists who are beginning to wonder if a totally integrated Europe – economically and politically – really amounts to the correct solution faced with enlargement and the democratic deficit. It gives me some satisfaction to say that the second category looks like winning, which suits us fine. The only point that needs to be added is acceptable to us, as it is about increasing the possibility of so-called ‘enhanced cooperation’. We prefer to call it ‘differentiated cooperation’, to make it clear that this does not mean driving Europe up a one way street to federalism but instead leaving Member States free to explore, applying variable geometry, the cooperation they consider most in line with their vision of the future and their interests.
Anyway, whatever the term used – ‘enhanced’ or ‘differentiated’ cooperation, the main thing in our view is to take the first step and open discussions, breaking the now totally deadlock of the European system. I would add that we think the new differentiated cooperation should be applicable to security policy so that it can be developed on a voluntary basis and in respect for national sovereignty.
Finally, if the Feira Council is going to deal with the Charter of Fundamental Rights we want it kept off the IGC agenda so that it can take the form of a statement not incorporated into the Treaty. As I have already had occasion to say in this House and in the forum responsible for drawing up the Charter, it would certainly be useful to proclaim our common values – if it is done well – but we must not deprive our peoples of the freedom to define the rights of their own citizens themselves."@en1
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