Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-06-12-Speech-3-161"
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"en.20020612.5.3-161"2
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".
Mr President, I am optimistic and I am certain that what Commissioner Verheugen has repeated on numerous occasions will in fact happen and that, at the beginning of next year, the first accession agreements will be signed with the new Member States of the European Union in the Pnyx beneath the Acropolis, in the precincts of the church of the parish of direct democracy in which Saint Paul himself preached. I am sure that this new historic reconciliation, which is good news for all of us, will look to the future and that we shall all dismiss the atavism which has been flying around recently as a mere distraction of no importance whatsoever.
We have seen a great number of protagonists along the way. The twelve candidate countries, ten of which will join us next year, at least on paper, with the other two, I hope, following on a little later. Along the way, nations have woken up and governments have woken up. However, I should like to highlight the real efforts made by a number of countries. Cyprus tops the league of candidate countries. It has an exemplary economy, an exemplary democracy and its institutions operate in an exemplary fashion. And hopefully, all these developments will help forces which do not operate as positively as they might to resolve regional problems. Malta, that unique Mediterranean island, the only one left which will not be a member of the European Union for some time yet and which we need to treat with understanding and on its own merits.
Lithuania, for which I have acted as rapporteur. This country has forged ahead in leaps and bounds in resolving the problem of moving from a planned economy to a free market economy. It has made excellent progress on a great many issues. Taking a decision such as the one about the Ignalina nuclear power station which Commissioner Verheugen mentioned earlier takes a great deal of political courage, especially when you know the regional structure of energy networks in the area and how the economy depends on them.
There are two problems: first the usual problem in these countries, that is, agriculture. I trust we shall demonstrate the courage needed and the will needed to ensure these issues do not delay the enlargement process.
Secondly, the major political issue of Kaliningrad. Clearly, these political issues and other issues in Europe must not listen to the urgings of the past. They must listen to the needs of the future. In this sense, the political wisdom of the European Union will be judged in Kaliningrad; it must be true to itself but must understand that the historic reconciliation reached between the 15, between the 25, the 27 and the 28 countries has to be a factor in continuing historic reconciliation, a Europe of peace, cooperation and development for everyone. A Europe in which we feel at home."@en1
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