Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-13-Speech-3-042"
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"en.20020313.2.3-042"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it has been said that this is an inevitable, unstoppable process, but it is a process that must be kept under control. We must recognise the efforts of these countries but, at the same time, we must also ask ourselves some questions about the more sensitive aspects of this process. As has already been said, Bulgaria and Romania are countries that have been left behind and form part of an area – the Balkans – that in itself is a critical area historically, let us remember, an area that sparked off disasters during the last century. What do you intend to do, Mr Commissioner and Mr President-in-Office of the Council, to speed up the process of integration and approximation of the Balkans to the Union?
The second point I should like to make concerns relations with the Mediterranean countries. There is a kind of double vision in this House: on the one hand, two hours ago we all applauded the initiative that our President proposed, seeking to adopt a different, more participatory approach to the Palestine peace process; on the other hand, after Barcelona, our Mediterranean policies are practically dead. How can one think of holding an effective dialogue if one is unable to understand that it is also possible to further peace through practical forms of aid?
Then there is the matter of public opinion. I was pleased to hear that we will be getting a coherent package as regards agricultural policies and Structural Fund policies. Public opinion is distrustful of the enlargement process, especially inside the countries of the Union. Of course, some people are more sensitive and others less, but all in all there is distrust in all the Member States. I believe that, from this perspective, answers need to be forthcoming.
A final point: languages. Here I support everything Mr Böge has just said. I believe we must retain the principle of multilingualism. With continued enlargement, on the one hand we are taking up an historical challenge that we do not, of course, want to miss, but on the other we must also do what we can so that the identity of our cultures and our peoples is not lost."@en1
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