Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-01-Speech-2-044"
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"en.20030701.1.2-044"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Prime Minister, Greece was not found wanting in its encounter with history. Indeed, the draft Constitution, whose preparation Greece showed it could oversee so clearheadedly, makes a decisive contribution to European history. After a period of national constitutionalism, we are now witnessing a period of European constitutionalism. Moreover, though sceptics may criticise this European constitutionalism, which will not replace national constitutions. Instead, it represents a break, a highly creative shift in the European spirit.
Greece has also, however, shown itself worthy of the classical humanism as expressed by Gorgias, who said ‘man is the measure of all things’. It also showed it could resist those who wanted to turn immigration policy into a tool of repression against those immigrants who are attracted to Europe as a land of work, prosperity and peace. Greece showed that it could resist, furthermore, by pointing the way to a suitable immigration and asylum policy.
When confronted with the storm over Iraq, the war in Iraq, moreover, Greece showed it could remain upright and clearheaded, and could once again point to the way forward, which took the form of an independent European defence policy and identity, still within the framework of the Atlantic Alliance. Greece, which, we should remember, invented the democratic city-state in ancient Athens, showed that it could contribute decisively to developing and strengthening a new form of democracy, typical of the European character: the European Union on a continent-wide scale. Greece showed it could also contribute to that process of enlargement by proposing that the western Balkans join the European Union in the long term. In the same way, Greece, and especially its prime minister, Mr Simitis, showed it could restore its troubled relations with Turkey. It showed it could move beyond their historic dispute and prove that nations do not have to be permanently at war. Greece showed it could open up to Turkey, that great country which has always been present on the European political scene, in the good times and in the bad.
Just one reservation: the CAP, which perpetuates serious inequalities in the distribution of resources between farmers and countries. Lastly, the Greek Presidency showed it could reconcile the world of Platonic ideas with Aristotelian realism. The art of politics in Greece cannot be separated from philosophy, just as the art of politics in Europe must not be separated from philosophy either, otherwise it will always be susceptible to the temptations of religious fundamentalism and repressive ideologies. The spirit of Europe today is the spirit of Greece, and the spirit of Greece is the spirit of Europe. It is my earnest wish that the future permanent presidency of the European Union, which I support, unlike so many, will always show it can be like the Greek Presidency. I hope that the latter will be an example for the permanent presidency of the European Council in future."@en1
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