Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-25-Speech-2-182"
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"en.20051025.20.2-182"2
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"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may, I too should like to start by welcoming the observers from Romania and Bulgaria to the European Parliament. The Czech Social Democrat Party, on behalf of which I am speaking, has always backed the accession of these two countries to the European Union, and one need look no further than the votes held in this House for proof of this. I believe that my party will continue to back the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union in 2007. The reason for this is that we believe this accession to be the next step in a historical process, namely the gradual enlargement of an area of peace, prosperity and stability to cover the eastern parts of the European continent.
I believe the Commission report that we are debating here today to be extremely well-balanced, and I should like to thank the Commission for having drafted it. It gives details of the progress that both countries have made in the fields of human rights, civil liberties and the political system, without of course forgetting the unquestionable progress they have made in economic terms. At the same time, however, it also highlights the problems that are still faced by both Romania and Bulgaria. Previous speakers have already mentioned many of these problems, which include corruption, food safety and other agricultural issues, border protection and public administration. The latter problem obviously also involves the capacity of these countries to absorb EU funds, to administer such funds in a democratic and transparent manner and to monitor their expenditure. Further problems include the protection of minorities, for example the Roma minority, which has been the subject of much debate.
I am quite sure that it is still feasible for both Romania and Bulgaria to join the EU in January 2007, but there is one point I should like to stress, and I hope that the observers will take my recommendation, which is based on my experience of the Czech Republic’s accession to the EU, back with them to their own countries. I believe that if the two countries are to succeed in joining the EU, cooperation must be established there between all European political parties, irrespective of whether they form part of ruling coalitions or are in opposition, and of whether they represent social democratic, liberal or conservative views. If such cooperation can be achieved and efforts are made in this direction, then I am sure that in six months’ time, when this House holds a debate on the final report, we will come to the conclusion that it will be possible for the two countries to join in January 2007."@en1
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