Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-09-Speech-3-274"
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"en.20030409.5.3-274"2
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"Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the immense difficulties that we are experiencing reveal existing trends which we should not overlook. The historic and privileged links between Great Britain and the United States are nothing new. The Atlanticist attitude of the candidate countries is based on our own weaknesses and on the fact that they do not believe that Europe is capable of defending them. Unfortunately they are right.
It is high time that conclusions were drawn from this crisis, which is perhaps a salutary one, like the ones which preceded it and which allowed us to move forward. Perhaps we shall finally find an answer to the question of what we want to do together. There are, in fact, two opposing visions of Europe. The first is the vision of those who are in favour simply of a large area of economic freedom, while foreign and defence policies are aligned with those of the United States and NATO. The second is the vision of a Europe which is powerful not only economically but politically as well, and which plays a full role in the world, in partnership with its allies and not under their tutelage. For the latter Europe, which is the one that I would like to see, a common foreign and defence policy is essential. If we have the political will to achieve it, this common defence will constitute a formidable potential for union and will finally enable us to harmonise our human and material resources in every field, and particularly in research, weapons systems and information, which will have inestimable civil, economic and social repercussions. This is why I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusions of the work carried out by Commissioner Barnier in connection with the Convention, and also, above all, with the excellent report by General Morillon. He has treated this highly sensitive subject with the competence for which he is famous, but also with tact and sensitivity. We must now come together again and move forward, if possible. I have not forgotten the Saint-Malo summit, which some people try to pretend never happened. If those people continue to prefer to take to the high seas, I hope they will use a big sail. One day, I am convinced of it, they will return to our shores. We, the others, who constitute by far the greater majority, prefer a Europe which is free, solidarity-based and credible, a Europe which also makes its influence felt in matters involving peace and the destiny of the world. This is the desire of many countries in the world, countries which expect Europe to play its role. It is also, I know, the desire of the people of Europe, as so many of them have been demonstrating in the last few weeks."@en1
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