Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-06-12-Speech-3-016"
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"en.20020612.1.3-016"2
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"Mr President, firstly I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Spanish Presidency for its very professional and successful approach to its many responsibilities and obligations. I note with satisfaction that we did not have any embarrassing incidents during the Presidency, as we have had in other recent presidencies.
Under the Spanish Presidency, negotiations for future European enlargement are continuing at a strong pace. The European Union is currently dealing with difficult areas such as agricultural affairs, regional policy and budgetary matters. We all know the moral arguments for enlargement of the Union. Developing democratic and civil societies, respecting the rule of law and promoting human rights are central goals of the Union. The European Union is a political model that has helped to bring peace to our continent. This process will be furthered, not diminished, by the enlargement of the Union. But we must all reflect on the key practical procedure being used to streamline the enlargement of the Union.
In December 2000 European Union leaders agreed a set of Treaty reforms in Nice which they considered would be the best procedure for bringing about enlargement. Already 13 out of the 15 countries in the European Union have ratified the provisions of the Treaty of Nice. If the Treaty of Nice is not ratified by all 15 Member States, enlargement will undoubtedly be delayed. If the Treaty of Nice is rejected by one Member State it is not valid law, because the proposed Treaty changes do not command the unanimous support of all the Member States. Delaying enlargement would have a very negative effect on the development of the Union. Prior to the birth of the EEC in 1957, Europe was bedevilled by hatred and division. The European Union has now ensured that the tools of war have been put aside in favour of the development of new policies.
The European Union is not simply about mutual economic progress. Thanks to the European Union, Europe's past has been put aside in the interests of peace and prosperity for all the peoples of Europe. That is not to say that the Irish people do not have clear concerns which they want addressed before any further referendum on the Treaty of Nice. The majority want assurances that Ireland's traditional military neutrality will be fully protected and respected by all Member States of the European Union.
It is very important that a declaration is agreed by all European Union leaders, spelling out in unequivocal terms that Ireland's military neutrality will be respected now and in the future. Irish troops have always served in peace-keeping and humanitarian operations under the auspices of the United Nations. The provisions of the Treaty of Nice do not change that. The situation is not altered by Ireland's participation in the European Rapid Reaction Force, but it is still very important and politically necessary for a declaration to be made in Seville expressing the support of EU governments for this special foreign policy issue, which means so much to so many people in Ireland.
Finally, the European Union is the natural home of the Irish, both geographically and politically. We recognise that standing alone is of little benefit when international cooperation is increasing. The European Union must ensure that the interests of each individual citizen are protected at all times."@en1
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