Strasbourg, 06/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - "I would like to solemnly confirm before you my Commission's unconditional commitment to the grand task of enlargement. This Commission intends setting this process on the right track, and this new page of the EU's history will have to be written as quickly as possible, in accordance with the goals set by the European Council and the Commission". This is what European Commission President Romano Prodi said Wednesday afternoon before the EP plenary in his statement on the interview given by Commissioner Gunter Verheugen which had given the impression that he was calling for a referendum in Germany on enlargement.
The candidate countries have made an "tremendous" effort that "we constantly risk underestimating" and this effort must be matched on our side, "by political generosity", said Prodi, adding: "the first act of generosity will be sticking to the promise that the EU will be ready to welcome new members, which means that, in Nice, the EU will have to decide on an institutional reform avoiding a "dilution of our system" (there, Prodi was applauded). Another gesture of political generosity will consist in trying to gather the broadest consensus of our citizens around this process, and Prodi observed: for my part, I fear that public opinion is not yet sufficiently convinced. The search for such a democratic consensus in no way means a desire to slow down the process but, on the contrary, the "desire to reinforce it". The ratification instruments of enlargement negotiations will be chosen by Member States and candidate countries, and neither the Commission nor Mr. Verheugen want to interfere with that choice, Mr. Prodi made a point of stipulating, while adding: "we must explain what is at stake to the citizens". We must "explain, explain, explain" that enlargement is no threat, but a historic opportunity, he stated, while stressing the "loyal commitment" of each Commissioner to succeeding in the Commission's "collective tasks" (if necessary, I'm not lacking the instruments to remind them, he added). I am fully convinced that Mr. Verheugen entirely shares the policy of the Commission', and I have full confidence in his ability to leading the enlargement negotiations rapidly and successful conclusion, Prodi concluded.
I am grateful to be able to provide a word of clarification (and, as far as I am concerned, "conclusive") on the interview that caused such a storm, said Gunter Verheugen, in turn, stressing that in the interview, given on a personal basis and in a "purely German" context, he had in no way "pleaded in favour of a referendum on enlargement". "I did not make such a request", he affirmed, recalling that he had declared that the referendum would be desirable for treaties that alter the nature of a State. I was referring to the Maastricht Treaty, not enlargement, he pointed out. He then repeated: my message is that we want enlargement as quickly as possible, "as deep" as possible, and I am "passionately" attached to succeeding in this, and "provide a soul" to a process that could risk taking a technocratic turn. The interim reports that the Commission will present this autumn will demonstrate that the candidate countries have made "considerable" progress, and that they are approaching accession, he said, hoping that the rhythm would be even more "sustained", and that they were approaching the "key issues". This will only be possible with the backing of Member States and the European Parliament, said Verheugen, emphasising that "the strategy is set" and that the Commission was pursuing it with "determination". According to Mr. Verheugen, three conclusions are to be drawn from this debate: - a vast communication offensive has to be launched, that the Commission has, moreover, already prepared; - there where there are "fears" (and there are), theyt must not be "erased", but spoken about with the citizens, especially in the border regions (there, Mr. Verheugen was applauded); - on issues that raise fears, there needs to be the greatest attention, like immigration (but there are possibilities of reasonable solutions).
Tomorrow, EUROPE will report on what followed these two statements.