In his speech in Bruges, Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen set out his views on the method to use and the goals to seek regarding governance and transparency for post-Nice. He declared:
"The Union is confronted with two major problems: its isolation in relation to its citizens, due to the lack of democratic legitimacy and transparency, as well as to excessive bureaucracy, and its inability to adapt to a constantly changing world. Neither of these problems can be resolved with the traditional hierarchical approach. An in-depth integration as expressed by the amendments made to the text of the Treaties, is not in itself enough to bring Europe close to its citizens (…) Better deal at EU level with issues concerning the single market, international trade, the common currency, foreign policy, security policy, external borders, security within the Union, the world environment. Many other issues - among others, culture, education and social security - are better dealt with a local and national level. A certain number of issues relating to the economy, employment and social policy must be coordinated within the EU. The clear distribution of competencies and the principle of subsidiarity are of fundamental importance. The more integration is deepened, the more important it is to define competencies (…)
Strong institutions require even greater legitimacy. The EU cannot be governed as if it were an elitist project (…) Transparency may not simply be defined as access to documents or efficiency (like decision-taking through a qualified majority). These elements are part of a vaster decision-making structure and must be understood as being a means of direct participation in all phases of decision-taking, as well as their implementation. This therefore implies active participation in the day-to-day politics of European integration (…) The integration process has reached such a stage that the approach needs changing. At European level, questions broached affect all fields of society. This means that the preparatory phase of work must be as exhaustive as possible. Solutions to fundamental questions must be found together (…) I propose that the future European agenda be prepared at a general assembly, bringing together the governments of the Member States, national parliaments, applicant countries, as well as Union institutions. Large scale participation is necessary, as the questions to be broached affect fundamental issues of national sovereignty. This assembly could participate in preparing the future Treaty."