Brussels, 29/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - As EUROPE has already reported, Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar made a speech on Tuesday in Paris presenting Spain's approach to the IGC and discussing Europe's longer-term future and enlargement. Certain passages of those remarks are summarised below.
Enlargement. Without enlargement, "Europe would be deprived of the continental dimension it needs to act in this age of globalisation" and Spain (which "has experienced a long economic transition and a happy political transition") would like enlargement to become "a reality as soon as possible". Mr Aznar, who does not believe in the setting of "dates and deadlines that are quickly contradicted" by events, nevertheless believes that "the year 2003 can mark the entry of our most advanced neighbours".
IGC. Mr Aznar reiterated that a Commission from which big Member States are absent "would run counter to all political logic" and called for the EU to stop "ignoring" the "real weight of each State" in Council votes. He also stated that enhanced cooperation must be a factor of "integration and not segregation" and proposed that it apply to areas where "European construction is least advanced" (justice and home affairs and certain aspects of CFSP). The countries embarking on enhanced cooperation are, "to use a term from biology", "precursors", whose joint effort will result in a broader reality", said Mr Aznar, adding: "In this context, Spain wishes to be one of the precursors on this new way".
The post-IGC phase (which should "conclude during the second half of this decade"). Debate on the configuration of the European Union in the long term must be undertaken after Nice without a fixed timeframe and "without foregone conclusions", said Mr Aznar, who added that he approaches the question of the sharing of powers (a subject to which Germany attaches particular importance, Ed.) "with an open mind", but that concerns related to subsidiarity "must not serve as a pretext for renewed nationalism with the undesirable result of the repatriation of the Union's powers to Member States". As a Spaniard, Mr Aznar believes there is a need to "develop further the concept of the shared exercise of powers rather than speaking of a division of powers".