Seville, 21/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox explained to Heads of States and Governments in his address before the opening of the European Council of Seville, that 2002 was politically the year of enlargement and that their, "partners were reaching the limits of their elasticity…We cannot let them down". Negotiations have progressed enormously, declared Mr Cox to a press conference but added that Seville should be used for sending out a clear political message and for confirming that Copenhagen will be the moment for defining "the new Europe". He also indicated that he had requested participants at the Summit to call on the Council and the Parliament to establish, "a political road map after the Copenhagen Summit" and that the Parliament give its assent to the accession treaties as soon as possible in spring 2003. In the context of direct aid to farmers, Mr Cox pointed out that the European Parliament, during its last session had supported the Commission's "financial plan". The President clearly believed that this would be the "most probable way forward" and that it would not be a bad thing, "to pause for thought" given the pending elections (in Germany, which he didn't mention) and the issue would subsequently not become a "political football". Mr Cox also pointed out that the Parliament would be holding a special plenary session in November, following the Brussels Summit and that Prime Minister Rasmussen and President Prodi would be attending.
Mr Cox renewed his appeal to Heads of States and Governments for an "inter-institutional dialogue at a political level" in order to develop a "partnership for reform" between the institutions. Mr Cox wants things to go further than a "high level technical group", which had already been set up. He also hoped that the three institutions would be able to reach an understanding on a series of reforms to make legislation more transparent, improve assessment of its impact and better prepare the consultation of the parties concerned, especially the national Parliaments.
Mr Cox refused to comment when questioned about reform of the Commission as proposed by Mr Prodi, explaining that he didn't have all the details (having had to take part in a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary forum in Bari: see EUROPE yesterday p 6). He did, however, provide a more detailed explanation on the following, welcoming all the proposals but within the framework of "active contributions" to the work of the European Convention because there were issues that "belong to" the Convention. The EP President explained that the idea was not to build a Europe behind closed doors. He also explained that an EP committee had provided him with the mandate for beginning "the highest level exploratory contacts with the Council" on a common statute for MEPs (Rothley report). For the present, Mr Cox is stressing two principles - equality between MEPs and wage and expenses transparency, without disclosing what he regarded as suitable remuneration (in an interview in the Financial Times he had mentioned a figure of EUR 400: see EUROPE 10/11 June p 6).
Speaking about immigration, Mr Cox emphasised to delegates at the Union Summit that he would not be tackling these problems for the first time, "We have to make this point in order to confront the view that in holding these discussions now we may be running the risk of catching the virus of the Extreme Right. He quoted two pertinent passages from the resolution adopted by the Euro-Mediterranean Forum at Bari, which stressed two important principles: co-responsibility between host counties and countries of origin; a link between immigration and co-operation in development but a "positive linkage, a carrot not a stick".
In a reference to the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice, and describing himself as an Irish European, Pat Cox explained to Member States that he hoped that they would adopt a declaration at Seville on Irish neutrality, "which I will strongly support". In addressing the Taoiseach and Bertie Ahern, he explained that he would personally and actively campaign in the referendum, explaining that there was "no plan B" if the Treaty was again rejected. In an address to both Heads of State and Governments and the press, he indicated that the other Member States and the institutions should respect Ireland's necessity to get on with its own debate, without creating the impression of outside forces at play, which would be counterproductive.