Nuremberg, 21/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on Tuesday at the SPD Congress in Nuremberg, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the "debate on the Future of Europe which Gerhard (Schröder) and I played a significant role in initiating in Nice". "Whatever disagreements on certain points of detail, I agree strongly that it is essential for Europe's future development that we provide guarantees against centralisation and are clear about the division of responsibilities between Europe's institutions. Britain has nothing to fear from a constructive and wide ranging debate about Europe's constitutional future".
Mr Blair also told the members of the German Social Democrat Party "how much both Britain and Germany live with our own history. For you, Europe is relatively easy as an issue; the commitment of military forces hard. For us, the opposite. To commit our military, relatively uncontentious, to commit to Europe causes deep passions". Regarding the events on 11 September, the British Prime Minister remarked: "I know there are some people who believe passionately that it is wrong to use force in Afghanistan. I have always respected the position of the genuine pacifist. I hope there will always be a place in our parties for people who hold sincerely pacifist views. (…) But I do believe we needed to show solidarity with the United States at this time".
Regarding the EU's role in the rest of the world, Mr Blair made clear: - In the Middle East, the State of Israel must be recognised by all, "freed from terror", and the Palestinians must have the "chance to prosper and in their own state, as equal partners with Israel in that future" (Northern Ireland shows us that "in a peace process, you should never give up, never cease trying because the very act of trying is itself a sign of peace", he added); - The next G7/G8 (Ed.: in summer 2002, in Canada) should formulate "firm proposals for a new Partnership with Africa".