mødet onsdag i den 13. marts 2002 sitzung am mittwoch i, 13. märz ...

13-03-2002 13
Collins (UEN). - Mr President, the EU Convention comes at a very important moment in the life of the European Union.
The Laeken Declaration made clear both the extent of the achievements of the European Union over the past 45 years and
the scale of the challenges which it now faces.
The debate we are holding here today relates to the enlargement of the European Union. The enthusiasm and determination
of the candidate countries seeking to join the EU provide the clearest proof that the European Union is an enormous
success story. I very much welcome the participation of representatives from the parliaments of the applicant countries in
the convention and look forward to the fresh insight they will bring to its workings.
Institutional reform goes hand-in-hand with the enlargement of the European Union. The regulations and directives
enacted through the three decision-making procedures in Europe must be streamlined and simplified.
The Göteborg European Council decided that those applicant countries which are ready to join the European Union may
complete accession negotiations by the end of this year. The goal of admitting new members into the European Union by
2004 is still a very ambitious one, but it is not a pipe dream. The enlargement of the Union is the number one policy
priority of all key European Union legislators.
Our resolve and courage at these enlargement negotiations must match those which the candidate countries themselves are
showing in enacting wide-ranging new laws as they prepare to join the European Union as full members.
The Spanish presidency is now dealing with the most difficult enlargement negotiations, notably agriculture, the structural
funds and budgetary matters. I am confident that both sides can reach agreement on these chapters of the talks and reach a
conclusion that is - and must be - fair and balanced.
The applicant countries have made substantial progress in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, with regard both to the
transposition of legislation and to the implementation of new European regulations and directives covering a wide range of
economic and social sectors. The significant advances made by the applicant countries in terms of enacting new EU
legislation have certainly ensured that the enlargement negotiations can proceed at a stronger pace.
Undoubtedly, substantial progress has been made in increasing the independence, transparency and efficiency of public
administrations in the applicant countries, as well as in improving the operation of their legal systems. Efficient public
administrations are necessary not only to enact new EU laws completely, but also to ensure that the Community's financial
resources are used effectively.
This year will undoubtedly be a decisive one for the enlargement process and for the future of Europe. This institution will
work very closely with the Spanish and Danish presidencies of the Union to ensure that enlargement negotiations are a
success. We will have to show the same determination as in the past in order to find constructive answers. I believe that
this House has the goodwill and determination to do just that.
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Bonde (EDD). - Hr. formand, jeg vil gerne advare mod, at vi behandler de nye ansøgerlande som
andenklassesmedlemmer.
I Konventet mødtes de nationale parlamenter og udpegede deres to repræsentanter til Præsidiet, uden at repræsentanterne
fra ansøgerlandene overhovedet var indkaldt. Jeg indsendte den 25. februar et forslag om, at ansøgerlandene så selv skulle
kunne vælge to repræsentanter til Præsidiet. Forslaget blev hverken omdelt eller behandlet. Præsidiet har holdt sine første
møder uden repræsentation fra de nye lande. De må naturligvis være fuldstændig ligeberettiget og også have ret til at få
tolket til egne sprog.
I weekenden mødes statsministrene i Barcelona. De store lande angriber den ligeberettigelse, der ligger i de skiftende
formandskaber. Der er risiko for en situation, hvor EU styres mellemstatsligt af store landes repræsentanter, som så samlet
handler overnationalt i forhold til de mindre lande. Det er sådan, jeg læser Solanas oplæg til topmødet. Det er en variant,
som Unionens kritikere ikke bør være ene om at kritisere. Forslagene er også et tegn til ansøgerlandene om, at de nok kan
komme med men ikke som ligeberettigede.
Kommissionens udspil om landbruget opererer også med to klasser af medlemmer. Det ville være klogere og billigere at
afvikle prisstøtten i EU inden udvidelsen og give ansøgerlandene og vor egne landmænd kompensation.
Signalet om den forskellige behandling er forkert og dybt skadeligt. Det er også Nice-topmødets beslutning om at give
Tjekkiet og Ungarn to pladser mindre i Europa-Parlamentet, end EU-lande med færre indbyggere har. Jeg vil endnu en
gang opfordre Kommissionen til at offentliggøre de såkaldte screening-rapporter. De handler om, hvor langt
ansøgerlandene er med at indføre vores lovgivning. Det er information, som tilhører borgerne - både hos os og i
ansøgerlandene. Her er det alle borgere, som diskrimineres. Forhandlinger om lovgivning bør ske i fuld åbenhed, som det