Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-26-Speech-2-178"
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"en.20060926.23.2-178"2
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".
Mr President, the Commission has just adopted its final report on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. Our conclusion is that both countries are in a position to take on the rights and obligations of European Union membership on 1 January 2007.
The rigorous application of these accompanying measures underlines the emphasis we have placed on conditionality throughout the accession preparations for those countries. We are therefore convinced that, once again, enlargement will proceed smoothly in a way that will strengthen, not compromise, the functioning of the European Union.
It is important to ensure that, as we enlarge, we are still able to function efficiently. I should like to use this opportunity to state my position concerning future enlargements. After the completion of this fifth enlargement, with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, I believe that an institutional settlement should precede any future enlargement. This is the way to ensure that our enlarged Union will function in an efficient and harmonious way. In any case, the Nice Treaty already requires us to adapt our institutional set-up following the accession of the 27th member. Last June’s European Council conclusions have set the course for that institutional settlement and I hope that by the end of 2008 we will succeed. In following that timetable, we will respect our commitments towards countries for which we have opened up the possibility of accession and fulfil our strategic goal of consolidating peace, democracy and prosperity on our continent.
We are looking forward to Bulgaria and Romania’s historic achievement of European Union membership in 2007. I expect both to contribute energetically to the process of European integration.
The accession of Bulgaria and Romania will mark an historic achievement: the completion of the fifth enlargement of the European Union, which further pursues the reunification of our European family.
On this occasion, I would like to congratulate the peoples and authorities of Bulgaria and Romania for all the efforts they have produced in order to fulfil the conditions for accession to the European Union. I would also like to thank you, honourable Members, for the constructive role played by Parliament. The European Parliament has always been a staunch champion of the political, economic and cultural benefits of enlargement. Your support has helped to spread peace, stability and prosperity in Europe.
The most recent enlargement, like others before it, has proved to be a great success. It has confirmed that the enlargement of the Union, if carefully managed, produces a win-win situation for both the existing and the acceding Member States. Enlargement stimulates economic growth and social cohesion and reinforces the role and influence of the European Union in the world.
The readiness of Bulgaria and Romania is a direct result of the sustained progress both countries have achieved over the last few years and particularly since our last report in May. The Commission takes its responsibility as guardian of the treaties very seriously. First and foremost, we must protect the functioning of the European Union. This endorsement of the 2007 accession date for Bulgaria and Romania is based on a rigorous, fair and objective assessment, as Commissioner Rehn will explain in detail in a few moments.
Bulgaria and Romania have found the right answer to our strict conditionality by addressing the areas we highlighted in May. In doing so, they have achieved considerable progress. However, today’s report also outlines some areas where both countries need to achieve further progress by sustaining the current reform drive until accession and beyond. The Commission has drawn up a number of measures to accompany the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
In particular, the Commission will set up a mechanism for cooperation and verification of progress in the areas of judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime. The mechanism contains specific benchmarks that have to be met. The Commission will report regularly to Parliament and to the Council on the progress achieved. On that basis, the Commission may, if necessary, invoke the safeguard measures set out in the Accession Treaty.
The Commission has further accompanying measures at its disposal, which will ensure the proper functioning of the Union up to and beyond the accession of both countries. European Union rules provide us with a comprehensive set of measures that allow us to combat potential risks in acceding and in current Member States and to address concerns such as food safety or the management of European taxpayers’ money."@en1
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