Brussels, 07/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Presenting the results of the Brussels Summit to the European Parliament on Wednesday, Anders Fogh Rasmussen again insisted on the historic nature of enlargement that will give Europe "strength and drive". The Danish Prime Minister also stressed that the meeting was brief (24 hours), well prepared and conform to the reform commitments taken in Seville. "We are negotiating with 27 countries and we still have 35 days in which to conclude", he added, saying there was still a great deal of work to be done by the Copenhagen Summit. The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, above all said that the elections in Turkey make it more necessary than ever to come to a decision in Copenhagen. He also insisted on the need to guarantee that acquis communautaire would be effectively applied from the very first day of accession. "We are in the process of promoting a new plan of society in the context of continental unification", he said, mainly stressing that enlargement provides the opportunity to "review our role in the world" and establish privileged relations with the Mediterranean countries and Russia.
The German President of the EPP-ED Group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, mainly said that "the road is still long for Turkey" and that "the time has not yet come to set a date for opening talks". While there are differences within my group, it does agree on this, he said. He mainly cited the shortcomings of the Turkish electoral system, the uncertainties that encumber the AKP Party and its leader as well as the recent problems experienced by German political foundations in Turkey (see EUROPE of 31 October, p.8). Although he welcomed the results of the summit, the Spanish president of the Socialist Group, Enrique Baron, questioned the realism of the decision taken regarding the financial framework given the fact that enlargement is to ten countries in one go. He also insisted on the need to correct the discrimination that was introduced by the Treaty of Nice concerning representation of Hungary and the Czech Republic at the EP. Swedish Liberal Cecilia Malmström felt it is important for there to be clarity regarding Turkey. "I hope the Copenhagen Summit will make positive provisions", she added, before noting that even some current Member States do not meet the Copenhagen criteria and that a system should be set in place to monitor democracy, human rights and the management of public affairs in the EU. According to the French president of the GUE/NGL Group, Francis Wurtz, the agreement on the financial and budgetary aspects do not augur well for the Fifteen's determination to take on enlargement (he noted that the financial effort foreseen hardly accounts for 0.08% of EU GDP), and called for rapid review of the financial perspectives. The joint president of the Greens/EFA Group, Monica Frassoni, regretted that the agreement on agriculture had resulted in making the future new Member States participate in reimbursing the British cheque. On the subject of Chechnya, she felt that the European Council should have requested that an end be put to the use of KGB practices and that Russian troops should withdraw. This dossier must be at the centre of the EU/Russia Summit discussions next Monday, she said.
British Labour member Gary Titley was concerned by the possibility that the safeguard clauses would be applied from the first day of accession. British Liberal Democrat Emma Nicholson felt Romania's accession could be delayed but hoped that the EP would approve the date of 2007. With regards Turkey, she reaffirmed that religion must not be an obstacle to EU membership. Austrian Social Democrat Johannes Swoboda, believed one should show proof of caution and not mistrust with regards the new Turkish government. Citing the Cypriot issue, British Conservative James Elles felt a date should not be fixed for opening talks with Turkey. German Social Democrat Martin Schulz noted that the new Turkish government should be given time before it is judged. German Christian Democrat Elmar Brok warned one must not commit the "error" of fixing a date for opening talks with Ankara. Speaking of the Kaliningrad issue, Mr Brok stressed that the EU must show it protects the dignity and the sovereignty of small countries. French Socialist Pervenche Bérès said among other things that reform of CAP cannot be put off till 2007.
In response to various speakers, Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Romano Prodi brought up:
- Turkey: Mr Rasmussen recalled that Turkey has gained the status of candidate country and that it must therefore be treated like all the other candidate countries and be able to benefit from a date set as soon as the political criteria are respected. "For the time being, it is too early to give a definitive answer", he said, noting that it will be up to the European Council to give its stance in Copenhagen.
During a press conference, he pointed out the important sequence of reform adopted last year in Turkey and declared that, "implementation was the key word". In response to questions, he outlined that this would notably involve guarantees for ending torture in prisons and any kind of detention for political reasons. Mr Prodi stressed that the Commission report was based on objective facts and that the "change of government would not supply us with any other new elements".
CAP reform: Mr Rasmussen re-asserted that the Brussels Summit had not said anything about the future of CAP and that the "mid-term review is still ongoing".
Kaliningrad: Mr Rasmussen recalled that the EU/Russia Summit took place in Brussels because of a decision taken by the Danish government, which had not been under any pressure but had considered that the meeting place was less important than the meeting itself. On the subject of Kaliningrad, he noted that the solution put forward depended on the absolute respect of Lithuania's sovereignty. He also pointed out that the EU sought to find a solution with Russia, indicating that in the absence o finding one, a visa policy would still be applied. "Russia does not have a veto on enlargement", he added.
At the opening of the debate, the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox paid homage to the good co-operation between the Danish Presidency and the European Parliament, including the efforts of Mr Rasmussen who, he pointed out, had participated in numerous meetings, including a meeting with the Conference of Presidents in Copenhagen before the Brussels Summit. Mr Cox wants the following Presidencies to follow this example and stressed that Mr Rasmussen would be taking part in the special session with parliamentarians from candidate countries in Strasbourg in ten days time.
EUROPE will be returning to the resolution adopted at the plenary.
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