Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-09-Speech-3-012"
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"en.20021009.4.3-012"2
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"Mr President, the train that began its journey in Helsinki is now only two stations from its destination. It is very gratifying indeed that it has been possible to push ahead with the Commission’s progress report to such an extent that it has appeared a month earlier than last year’s, and it is also gratifying that we now have a complete basis for making decisions as to which countries are ready to conclude the enlargement negotiations.
To begin with, I should like to thank the President of the Commission and Commissioner Verheugen for the commitment and the energy they have shown right from the start in carrying out this historic task. I followed their efforts from my position here in Parliament as soon as they took up their offices. It has been a pleasure to note and observe their commitment, which also shines through here in Parliament today.
We have been given an objective account of the candidate countries’ level of preparation. The Commission has come to the view that ten countries are ready to conclude the negotiations. They fulfil the Copenhagen criteria, and it is considered that, before the date of accession in 2004, they will be able to fulfil the economic criterion, as well as the criterion of being able to implement the
. On certain points, there is a need for further efforts with regard to administrative capacity, and the Commission proposes that consideration continue to be given to the candidate countries’ preparations for membership.
The recommendation to conclude the negotiations with ten countries is to be debated at the Brussels European Council in 14 days’ time, and discussions regarding the final decision are to take place at the Copenhagen European Council in two months’ time.
According to the Commission, Bulgaria and Romania have made good progress since the last reports, but are still not so far forward that the negotiations can be concluded. As is well known, it was decided in Seville that special efforts should be made on behalf of these two countries, and a decision on this matter too needs to be made in Copenhagen.
The Commission notes that Turkey has made great progress towards fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria. This is a gratifying development that must be maintained. It is also noted that there is still some way to go, and Turkey is therefore being encouraged to carry out further reforms and to implement reforms already adopted so that it continues to improve its prospects of membership. With regard to the Seville conclusions, Copenhagen will be the decisive moment in the development of the relationship between the EU and Turkey. In the run-up to the Brussels European Council, we must not now pre-empt the decisions to be made in Copenhagen.
With regard to Cyprus, the Commission fully supports the EU’s efforts. The Commission calls upon all the parties involved, and Turkey in particular, to take active steps to bring about a solution before the conclusion of Cyprus’s negotiations for accession to the EU. The conclusions from the Helsinki European Council still form the point of departure for adopting a position on the issue of Cyprus’s accession.
Finally, I want to endorse what the President of the Commission and Commissioner Verheugen have said about the Irish vote, and I want to concur with the words of the President of the Commission about the risks and costs of
enlarging the EU, for the risks and costs of non-enlargement are much greater. That, of course, was why the track was laid in Helsinki. That is why the train is now travelling on towards peace, democracy and prosperity throughout our continent. The next station is Brussels and the last station is Copenhagen. The Danish train drivers are ready, and the whistle has sounded today."@en1
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