Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-03-20-Speech-4-042"
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"en.20030320.2.4-042"2
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"Mr President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, the summit is due to meet tonight. It will discuss exactly what we have discussed here this morning. Your president, Mr Pat Cox, will have the opportunity to address the meeting on behalf of the European Parliament and we await his comments with interest. I can, however, assure you that the Greek Presidency will pass on the views expressed in this Chamber, this Chamber of democracy, where European public opinion is represented, to this evening’s meeting.
We have done a massive amount of peace work on the basis of these principles. We are continuing this
by enlarging and promoting our international role. And we can ensure that Iraq and how the problem of Iraq has been dealt with will be the exception in the international community rather than the rule, thereby safeguarding global intergovernmentalism, which there is an increasing call for, and the application of the basic principles which we embrace and serve, be it in the Council, the European Parliament or the Commission.
We may have our differences, ladies and gentlemen, but we shall emerge from this crisis – this is the message I get from my colleagues and from our citizens, whom we all honour – decisive, with renewed political will, determined to build a stronger, united Europe. Whether this will come about today, tomorrow or in a few months’ time, I do not know. But the momentum is there. The momentum is there and I think it is our responsibility to help put flesh and bones on our debate in the Convention on the future of Europe and, of course, later, at the Intergovernmental Conference, so that we can talk of a Europe which will foster democracy, progress and peace both on our own continent and throughout the world.
So I am optimistic, especially following our debate, that the leaders of the European Union, the European Council, will indeed send out a message of unity, cooperation and determination to deal efficiently with the problems ahead, and I envisage a decisive role for the European Parliament in paving the way forward.
Here too the perceptions have differed. This is a strength, not a weakness. It is the basic principle of democracy. Our wager, our challenge is to find the synthesis from this democratic thesis and antithesis, the common will to move forward. The presidency also assures you that it will do its job to help achieve this aspiration and reach this synthesis. We know, as do the Fifteen, that we always have a responsibility to approach and achieve this common will. Numerous members of the European Parliament spoke of the need to heed the voice of the citizens of Europe and their unity and common will. Perhaps, as we discuss the future of Europe, we should consider how to empower this voice, the citizen’s voice, in our institutions and decisions and how to ensure our citizens are more seriously involved in the overall process.
Nonetheless, numerous common messages emerged from these different perceptions. Of course, the first was acute disappointment at the failure of diplomatic efforts. The second was the need for our humanitarian presence. Commissioner Chris Patten spoke about this. And regardless of one's stand on the war, it is, I think, morally and politically correct to say that the European Union will not turn its back on any humanitarian problems which this conflict may cause. We have to turn our attention to the Iraqi people. Hunger, refugees, the cold, possible problems in northern Iraq, vulnerable groups, displaced persons, these are all problems waiting to happen. I should like to emphasise that we already enjoy excellent cooperation with the Commission and Chris Patten on these issues and, as he quite rightly said, the European Union can be proud of its record here. Even if we have aspirations to be a more important piece on the international chessboard, we should be proud of the important humanitarian work carried out by the European Union in all four corners of the world, wherever it is needed.
Thirdly, numerous references were made to reconstruction. This word is a word which many Member States have been loath to use or discuss, either because, first, the war has barely started and, secondly, because they are understandably reticent about calling on the European Union to pay for the damage when the party is over, especially when, in this particular war at least, the Union did not approve. But here again we have an important responsibility. First of all, a responsibility for the fact that we want any developments in the region, and in Iraq in particular, to be directed centrally, to be directed by the UN, and if we are involved in reconstruction we can insist that the European Union will only make a substantial contribution if the United Nations is involved and directs the process, whatever that process may be. Consequently, we have a responsibility to ensure that the UN has the lead role and then, of course, we also have a serious responsibility to play our part in the reconstruction process, whatever that process may be, as and when the fighting stops.
We also have a serious responsibility, as many of you pointed out, towards neighbouring countries. We are in contact with them and I think that here too, especially as regards the candidate country, Turkey, that it needs our help, especially as it progresses towards accession, and that it is bound to be affected one way or another by the crisis in Iraq.
In the Arab world, several Members pointed out that dialogue here is difficult at the moment. I would say the opposite is true, because the European Union has authority in the Arab world. The initiatives the European Union is taking, our constant understanding with them, have shown that there is no cultural divide. Even the citizens shouting for peace in our streets have proven that. The invitation extended to the presidency of the European Union by the leaders of the Arab world to visit Sharm el Sheik was not a happy coincidence. I also welcome the initiatives taken by the European Parliament to arrange meetings with parliamentarians, regardless of when they take place. This dialogue is essential if we are to start a debate on fundamental issues, fundamental issues which will avert possible future crises, issues such as poverty and economic cooperation, human rights and democracy, the role of women, security and how we can work together to fight terrorism, illegal immigration and numerous other problems. Of course, the fact that we are advancing this peace process in the Middle East jointly with the Quartet, and with the unanimous backing of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Fifteen, is appreciated by all the forces working for peace, by Israel and by the Arab world.
Finally, an important message emerged about our relations with the United States. Numerous speakers emphasised that the point is not whether we are for or against the Americans. That is not where the problem lies. Whether we are friends or not is not the point. As Mr Crespo and several other speakers said, we are partners and partners need to talk on equal terms. Talking on equal terms means, as Mr Poettering said, that we ourselves need a strong Union. We need a single voice and we need to be able to take on more and more responsibility in international affairs. We need to give serious consideration to the future development of our defence and foreign policy and we need systematic dialogue with the United States.
As a brief aside, when we met a few months ago, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress went for me hammer and tongs on the subject of the International Criminal Court and our position. I discussed the matter with them, I expressed the views of the European Union and I realised that they do not really know what we are thinking, what our stand is and why we think this court is so important. I do not know how many I convinced, but they certainly went away thinking more about our position than before. I also know that Mr Pat Cox has already taken initiatives to start a debate between the European Parliament and Congress and I welcome these initiatives, which I think should be supported and, of course, intensified.
We have to work with the United States if we want a multilateral approach to problems and I did not hear anyone speak out against multilateral cooperation within the international community. A multilateral approach to today’s problems which, in the final analysis, means safeguarding a simple principle, the principle of the ‘strength of law’ rather than the principle of the ‘law of the strong’. That is what the European Union is. A community of values. A community of principles. That is what unites us. Different nations, different languages, even different traditions, but with a common will based on principles, based on these values. And it is on the basis of these values that we are building the Europe of the 15, the Europe of the 25, then of the 28 or even perhaps more, if we include the Western Balkans."@en1
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