Strasbourg, 14/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - In 2003, the European Union must face two major challenges: its own transformation following enlargement, and the fight against recession and insecurities of all types that threaten, including those coming from the outside, and faced with which it has to ensure its constant presence, and a "single and clear" stance. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, President-in-Office of the European Council thus began the presentation, in Strasbourg on 14 January, of the programme of the Greek Presidency before Parliament (an institution that he would like to see strengthened and with which he intends working closely). Regarding one of the current main concerns of the Presidency, the risk of a conflict with Iraq. Mr. Simitis repeated that "we want to avoid it", while insisting on the need for Baghdad to respect UN resolutions (also see EUROPE of 11 January, p.4).
As for European Commission President Romano Prodi, he especially warmly backed the priority that the Greek Presidency attributes to the situation in the Mediterranean: from this situation "the conditions for peace or war" depend, he said, assuring his audience of his wholehearted support for the "choice of the Greek Presidency in favour of peace". Like Mr. Simitis, "I hope for a united action for peace" on the part of the EU, said Prodi who, without mentioning Iraq, called for advantage to be taken of the "massive presence of Europeans in the Security Council" now. Our Governments may be divided, but "public opinion is united in the will to distance war", while being animated by just as strong a will to combat terrorism, said Romano Prodi.
As for enlargement, Costas Simitis said that the next two years would be crucial for the development of Turkey and that Greece was convinced that this country had to find its place within the European family and was prepared to help it achieve the necessary reforms. Simitis again expressed the hope of a political settlement to Cyprus. Regarding ESDP, he considered that stress had to be placed on crisis management and on permanent co-operation measures between the Union and NATO.
As for the Lisbon Strategy, which will be at the centre of the European Council of 21 March in Brussels, Mr. Simitis placed special emphasis on the importance of an economy based on knowledge and information, as did Prodi, who did not hesitate in dramatising the situation (see p.10).