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Speech by Mr. Romano Prodi
President of the European Commission
On
Accession Day
Dublin Castle, 1 May 2004
Taoiseach, President Cox, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen, This is truly an historic and a happy day. It
gives me great pleasure to be here in Dublin on this
occasion and to be able to celebrate with you the
achievement of the key goal of my Presidency of the European
Commission.
For many long years we have been preparing the ground for
the accession to the European Union of these 10 countries
from central and eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. The
negotiations we have conducted, while difficult at times,
bear witness to our common commitment to unify our continent
and finally to end the artificial division the Iron Curtain
imposed on us for more than half a century.
First, I want to pay tribute to the peoples of Europe who
are joining us today. Even in the darkest days of Stalinism,
they never lost hope. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall,
they have carried out a quiet revolution based on the
democratic values that are our common heritage today.
I also want to pay tribute to the leaders of these countries
-- to the Governments and Parliaments that have followed
since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Despite difficulties of
all sorts, they have managed to mobilise the whole
population in their countries and implement courageous
reforms. And I also want to pay tribute to the peoples of
the 15 older members for welcoming in the new countries and
sharing their area of prosperity and security with them.
These reforms now mean the new members can join our
institutions with their heads held high, with equal rights
and responsibilities.
As Ireland’s National Forum on Europe reported, enlargement
is a “win-win” exercise for all the peoples of our
continent. Together we can now set about consolidating a
free and prosperous Union, a joint enterprise to strengthen
our shared democratic values and create an area of stability
that will serve as a model for less fortunate regions of the
world.
This is a noble ambition worthy of the inheritors of a rich
civilisation, but it is one that has often eluded us at
various times in our history.
Although the Union is now closer to becoming geographically
coterminous with our continent, we still have much
unfinished business to attend to.
Last weekend’s disappointing referendum result in Cyprus
demonstrates that the achievement of the grand goal of a
broad-based European unification can still be undermined by
unresolved regional concerns.
Throughout its history, the European Union has already
demonstrated its capacity to act as a reliable and
trustworthy broker in overcoming such problems. Indeed the
Union’s capacity to accommodate diversity is one of its
strengths.
With this enlargement, the Union has grown one third
geographically and one fifth in population, but we cannot
and must not rest on our laurels.
There are other candidates whose aspirations must be given
due consideration. Since negotiations with 10 new members
were completed, the Commission has recommended opening
negotiations with Croatia.
Negotiations are progressing well with Bulgaria and Romania.
And the Council will take a decision on Turkey at the end of
the year on the basis of the recommendation that my
Commission will adopt in the autumn.
The Union must also assume its responsibilities towards the
other neighbouring countries with whom, from today, we share
a land border of over 5 000 kilometres. This has brought a
new dimension to our strategic thinking.
In order to meet this challenge, the Commission I lead has
proposed a New Neighbourhood Policy. And I am happy to say
it has received strong support from the Member States. The
goal is to create a ring of friends, stretching from Russia
to Morocco, with whom we share common concerns, both
political and economic, and thereby prevent new dividing
lines being drawn across Europe and barriers across the
Mediterranean.
In a sense, this is another concept of enlargement --
enlargement without sharing our institutions.
Another awesome challenge we must face together at present
is the need to combat terrorism, the evil spectre that
haunts all of us who strive for peace.
No country can stand alone against this sinister phenomenon,
not even a Union of the size and sophistication we have been
fortunate enough to build.
There are two further challenges which the new Europe must
meet in a spirit of solidarity.
These are the interlinked issues of how best to manage
economic globalisation and the concerns and opportunities it
entails and, in an increasingly multipolar world, how best
to ensure systems of political governance that are both
efficient and equitable.
That is why the constitution we are working on is crucially
important. A good constitution needs to be adopted quickly
to send a strong, clear message of confidence in the future
and to lay down arrangements that allow us to work
effectively.
In an increasingly complex world, the enlarged Union, based
on democratic values, economic openness and a strong social
model, can achieve far more than any country can ever hope
to achieve on its own.
It can provide a reference for all those across the world
who seek their own path, from Latin America to Africa and to
Asia.
This does not mean that Europeans want to impose their model
on others. Particularly as our "model" is based on the
recognition and safeguarding of our diversity.
But Europe has a great responsibility to help build a world
based on the principles of partnership, fairness and
justice.
Lastly, I want to express my deep thanks and appreciation to
Bertie Ahern for inviting me -- and indeed all of us -- to
come to Dublin to welcome the new Member States into the
Union.
I wish him well during the remainder of the Irish Presidency
and especially in his endeavours to bring the negotiations
on the Constitution to a successful conclusion.
The Commission will be by his side.
Thank you.
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