Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-26-Speech-3-333"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20051026.22.3-333"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Madam President, in the run-up to its tenth anniversary, there is every reason to evaluate the Barcelona Process. The world today does look very different to the way it did ten years ago. We have had enlargement involving, for example, Cyprus, and have begun negotiations with Turkey and Croatia. The Neighbourhood Policy has been developed, and we have seen how, in many of our partnership countries, democratisation has progressed and, in certain others, unfortunately taken a step backwards. The fight against terrorism has become ever more important. The war in Iraq and the difficult process that Iraq is now going through on its way to democracy also has an impact on relations with the region as a whole. We have Iran and the problems surrounding the policy on nuclear fuel in that country. We have the Palestinian election and the withdrawal from Gaza but, at the same time, stagnation in the peace process. The exciting events in Lebanon and Syria and the ongoing tragic situation in Africa’s last colony, Western Sahara, show that there is still a very great deal indeed to be done in the region.
In the light of this, it is only natural to review and debate the Barcelona Process. It has created structures, and extremely important ones at that, and a form of more securely established cooperation between us. The association agreements with all the countries have led to more interchange, trade, projects and many shared fora, and it has given rise to a long-term commitment for the whole of the EU. Proof of this lies in the fact that there are Members from the whole of Europe, and not just from the south, debating in the Chamber this evening.
We have a common history and culture and also common problems and solutions to those problems. The areas concerned, of which there are indeed many, include terrorism, migration, growth, development, trade, the environment and energy. Above all, however, the issues for the future are those of human rights and democracy. These are the most important areas of all and, in these, the Barcelona Process has in many ways failed. Even though the association agreements contain human rights clauses, these are not used because we have no sound mechanisms for dealing with serious human rights violations in the countries with which we cooperate. There is also sometimes quite limited interest in the issue.
These areas present the big challenge for the Barcelona Process in the future. We must restructure the whole of our cooperation so that it becomes a framework for a huge push for democratisation throughout the region. Nothing contributes more to stability than the transition to democracy. The least free countries in the whole world are concentrated in the Middle East region, and this creates a breeding ground for fanaticism, frustration and perhaps also terrorism. That is why, within the Barcelona Process, we must form strategies that push for extensive democratisation. We must support dissidents, civil society, freedom of expression and communities founded on the rule of law, etc. The means for doing all this are, of course, trade, interchange, educational programmes and cultural cooperation.
The Barcelona Process must in that way become a type of alternative for countries that can never become EU Members. It must provide practical advantages in exchange for our requiring reforms. If we succeed in bringing this about, we shall have made an historic contribution. In conclusion, I wish to commend my colleague, Mrs Jäätteenmäki, for her very constructive report."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples