Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-10-Speech-3-168"
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"en.20040310.4.3-168"2
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". – Mr President, I would like to thank the Members who took part in this debate. I myself have witnessed at first hand on my visits to the accession states the quite extraordinary progress that has been made and Members have rightly drawn attention to that progress. There is still work to be done, but a huge amount of work has already been achieved.
A number of other issues were dealt with, but I want to return to one issue – the question of free movement and migration. A number of Members made the point that there is no evidence whatsoever to support some of the more scaremongering stories that have been spread in this regard. I welcome those particular contributions. Certainly at this point there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the floodgates will open as and from 1 May next. At best, this is tabloid hysteria. The study by the European Commission and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions shows that, even under conditions of full freedom of movement, migration from all the new Member States to all current Member States is likely to be about 1% of the working-age population of the new Member States over the next five years. That is hardly a flood!
The study shows that typical potential migrants are young and extremely well educated – the very type of people we need in the Union. It also shows that they are single, with no dependants, and that there is a high propensity for them to return to their native homes. The study confirms the view of the European Commission that fears of a huge wave of migration from the new Member States after 1 May are unfounded.
I mention this point in particular because I know from the domestic debates on referenda in Ireland how easy it is for people of ill intent to misrepresent what in fact is the position. The reality is that Europe should be a Europe that welcomes the ten accession states and that we should fully meet all our obligations to the ten states.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Members. It has been a very thought-provoking and thorough debate. I know Members have put a huge amount of time and effort into what were necessarily truncated contributions. But points made have been well noted by the presidency.
Parliament has addressed this issue in a most effective manner. I wish to express my gratitude to Members for the role they have played in the very important task of communicating to the citizens of their countries the unique and extraordinarily important moment we have reached in terms of enlargement.
I agree also with what Commissioner Verheugen said this morning on the need to send out a positive message – and it is a remarkably positive message. I cannot understand how democrats cannot see just how remarkable the moment will be on 1 May when Europe will be reunited and when the most extraordinary event will come about without the firing of a single shot, as one or two Members have said.
The presidency has full confidence in the Commission's ability to manage a smooth transition to membership of the accession states. I have already paid a personal tribute in this regard to Commissioner Verheugen. The Commission has the sole competence among the institutions to carry out the task of ensuring the proper functioning across all policies. I think that is happening.
The presidency at the same time urges the newly-acceding states to complete their preparations and in particular to complete preparation in areas where problems have been identified by the Commission. This is worth doing for the new accession states themselves and for the Union. I would encourage full attention in that regard.
With regard to Bulgaria and Romania, we had two fine reports before us today from Mr Van Orden and Baroness Nicholson. The presidency intends, in partnership with these countries and with the Commission, to ensure the application of the fundamental principle of this enlargement process and in particular the principle that each negotiation will be based on the merits of the individual case. The European Union will continue to monitor very closely the commitments made and the effective implementation of the
in order to guide both countries in their preparation for membership. The presidency urges both countries to continue carrying out these preparations energetically.
We are determined to do as much as possible to carry out the mandate of the European Council of December and to finish the negotiations this year. Welcoming both countries into the Union in January 2007 remains the European Union's objective.
A number of Members specifically mentioned issues relating to Cyprus and Turkey. Mr Poos, in particular, touched on this. At last month's General Affairs and External Relations Council ministers again expressed the clear preference of the Council for the accession of a united Cyprus. We welcome the agreement of the parties to resume the negotiation process for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the Secretary-General's mission of good offices. The Council fully supports Secretary-General Annan's efforts for the conclusion of an agreement, and we remain ready to accommodate the terms of a settlement, in line with the principles on which the Union is founded. I hope that the parties will redouble their efforts to reach agreement in the talks that are under way, and this clearly is in the interests of all the people of Cyprus.
As we prepare for the European Union decision in relation to Turkey in December, we must also welcome the progress that Turkey has made to date in legislation for reform. Minister Cowen highlighted the crucial importance of moving ahead with the practical implementation of reforms at all levels of the administration and throughout the country when he led the EU Troika meeting with Foreign Minister Gül in Ankara on Monday last. Minister Cowen reiterated the assurance to Minister Gül that, if the European Council decides in December that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU is committed to opening negotiations."@en1
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