Copenhagen, 27/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is to take on the presidency of the European Council on 1 July, warned against the "major risk" that is, he believes, entailed by any attempt on the part of certain Member States (especially Germany, but also the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom), to obtain certain guarantees concerning the future reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) before finalising accession negotiations with candidates on financial aspects, and especially on direct farm aid. "No-one should take enlargement hostage in the reform of the common agricultural policy", he said on Wednesday evening speaking before a group of journalists in Brussels. Mr Rasmussen stressed that his country is "also very much in favour" of CAP reform and even of "phasing out" direct aid (the main demand made by the four above-mentioned countries), but that the Danish Presidency will refuse to link this reform of CAP to accession negotiations. "Reform of CAP and membership talks are two different things which should be treated on two different tracks. We cannot accept the fact that Common Agricultural Policy is made another precondition for enlargement", he affirmed. A common negotiating position of the Fifteen on all financial aspects, including direct aid to farmers of future member countries should be submitted to candidates "early November at the latest" so that there is sufficient time to negotiate with them in the weeks before the European Council of Copenhagen, stressed Mr Rasmussen. It is known that Chancellor Schröder has already clearly stated that he wants a clear idea on the direction of the CAP "mid-term review" and on the future of direct aid before giving his endorsement of a common negotiating position on direct payments in favour of future members. Mr Schröder said on several occasions (and even again after Seville) that such a common position should only be approved in December during the Copenhagen Summit.
On Wednesday, Mr Rasmussen did not leave any doubt as to the fact that the Danish Presidency plans to organise work differently. "It is important for the timetable approved unanimously at the Seville Summit to be kept. This timetable clearly states we should have a common position on direct aid early November at the latest. If we put this date off, it could have serious consequences for the whole enlargement process", he insisted. An EU common position on direct aid only in Copenhagen would come "too late" as the EU will need "several weeks" for negotiating with candidates, repeated Mr Rasmussen. In his view, the December deadline for concluding negotiations is "extremely important". "If we do not manage to conclude the negotiations in December, Union enlargement could be postponed several years", which would be a "historic failure and a political disaster", while "we have a historic opportunity to unify the European continent and to make a great area of stability, prosperity and security", he insisted. "We have a moral obligation to conclude negotiations in December. This historic opportunity cannot be overshadowed by the debate on the cost of enlargement" which is at any rate minor compared to its economic and political benefits, he insisted. "Enlargement will be a win win situation for all" and discussions on financing "do not justify the risk of putting off enlargement".
It goes without saying, said Mr Rasmussen, that the completion of accession negotiations with up to ten candidates will be the "top priority" of the Danish Presidency. "It would be a complete circle - from Copenhagen (in 1993, when accession criteria were defined) to Copenhagen in 2002". "More than ten years after these countries freed themselves of communism, we must keep our promises and welcome them into an enlarged Union", insisted Mr Rasmussen. In his view, the Member States, but also the candidates, must be flexible, and "we need everyone's commitment". The Prime Minister also felt that, by end September, the accession negotiations may be accomplished on all "technical" chapters, that is, without major financial implications, in order to be able to focus at 100%, from October, on the final package for talks. He also stressed that the Danish Presidency was going to strictly respect the principle of each country's own merit: "Each candidate that is ready in the autumn may conclude negotiations in December and join in 2004. No-one should wait for the others". Answering questions on Poland, Mr Rasmussen said he was confident that it would be among the countries ready for concluding in December. The list of candidates ready to conclude negotiations will be established at the European Council in October in Brussels, in conformity with the decision taken last week in Seville. The decision can only confident that all ten candidates will be ready and will receive the go-ahead of the European Council of Brussels", he assured. Copenhagen should also give a very clear signal to Bulgaria and Romania, in the form of an adapted roadmap, a more precise timetable for accessions and, possibly, in the form of additional pre-accession aid. Mr Rasmussen even pointed out that the two countries may expect that the Fifteen and the future Members together approve, in Copenhagen, a political declaration formally clarifying the fact that the first wave of accessions (not including Bulgaria and Romania) will not be the last", and that the enlarged EU will intensify the accession process of these countries. On Cyprus, Mr Rasmussen pointed to the Helsinki conclusions and stressed that solving the Cyprus problem could not constitute a preliminary condition for the country's accession. He also insisted that the two sides make an additional effort to solve the conflict in time. He stated that it was "vital" for the EU to intensify its relations with Turkey but that the country would be treated in exactly the same way as other candidate countries and therefore had to fulfil the political criteria of Copenhagen before beginning accession negotiations. Mr Rasmussen explained that it was up to Turkey to respond but wanted to know whether the Copenhagen Summit would decide on the next stages of the accession process for Turkey. In Mr Rasmussen's opinion it is still too early to tell and would depend on the Commission's regular report in October.
Enlargement will dominate the Danish Presidency but will not be the only priority, Mr Rasmussen insisted. The work programme will be officially presented on Friday and will focus on: the work towards creating a large area of freedom, security and justice in Europe. In this context, particular importance will be afforded to the war on terrorism and implementation of the Seville decisions on political asylum and immigration, sustainable development - finding he means to reconcile economic growth and environmental protection, food safety, which should also be integrated into the PAC mid-term review and in implementing the new fisheries policy; strengthening the EU's role as an international player.
In his interview to the press, Mr Rasmussen mentioned a number of other subjects, notably: