Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-12-14-Speech-3-178"
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"en.20051214.15.3-178"2
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"Mr President, the enlargement has been of great benefit to the European Union, including its old countries, and we must turn away from the populists who claim otherwise. I am convinced that Romania and Bulgaria will also enrich the EU. Their accession will not only benefit them, but will also add something to the EU. When I say this, it does not mean that we must not be strict where the EU’s criteria and values are concerned.
The simple fact of the matter is that much remains to be done in that area. According to last month’s Transparency International list, Bulgaria is ranked Number 55 and Romania Number 85 on the list of corrupt countries, which puts them alongside such countries as Mongolia and the Dominican Republic. What is particularly cause for concern is the fact that corruption even pervades the highest echelons.
Another area for improvement is border control and all the related activities, as well as the rights of minorities.
Bulgaria and Romania have done a great deal, but much is yet to be done before the criteria are really met. This House was forced to decide really early on, 20 months prior to accession, but we will not take the actual decision on the question when those countries can join until we have received the last piece of information, namely in April, although it is more likely to be May, of next year. I think we should be fair in this, that we need to let the facts speak for themselves, that we need to ratchet up the pressure now and that Romania and Bulgaria should now pull out all the stops in order to make actual progress in the area of corruption.
It would be tremendously symbolic if we were to see representative senior officials and former political figures brought to court on account of their corruption. That would be a wonderful symbol. Our verdict will depend on this: fair but objective and also faithful to our values.
Knowing the Commissioner, I trust that he will also operate along those lines, that, if the outcome is good enough, the countries in question can join in 2007, but that, if there is a shortcoming, the Commission will suggest postponing their accession by one year.
It is good to maintain the criteria in order to retain the support for enlargement. It also benefits the EU’s credibility and, last but not least, it is a very good thing for the people of Romania and Bulgaria who deserve our level of freedom and democracy."@en1
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