Strasbourg, 14/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 9 April, 90% of Members of the European Parliament said yes to Poland's accession to the EU, send that message out to your citizens, said European Parliament President Pat Cox on Wednesday, welcoming the Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski into the main chamber.
The strongest support for this unprecedented enlargement has always come from the Parliament, recognised President Kwasniewski, noting that this Parliament is also the best possible illustration of European diversity, and, at the same time, of the willingness to co-operate, which conditions its existence. Europe is becoming larger, is knitting together: this is no longer a vision, but a fact, even though our societies do not yet know each other very well, despite the common traditions of democracy (the Polish President reminded his listeners that the Polish Constitution of 1791 is the oldest in Europe). This Europe is more than just a common market, funds, aid, it is a Community of values, the massive potential of 450 million people, which may become- let us not be mealy-mouthed, said Mr Kwasniewski- a real world power. Europe's strength, continued the Polish President, is its ability to evolve: the European Parliament is the proof of that, as is the European Council. As to the "mythical" bureaucracy of Brussels, he stressed the need for European integration to have a central decision-making system.
Members of the Union old and new will have to answer a series of questions, on such topics as relations with other countries, notably the United States: Mr Kwasniewski feels that peace and world security can only be guaranteed through co-operation with the United States, but only under the terms of an equal partnership. As to Iraq, he stresses the fact that, in order to gain peace and ensure democratisation, UN must play a key role in both the stabilisation and reconstruction phases. Another fundamental question for Europe is that of the borders to the East, stated the Polish President, who pointed out that Poland's eastern borders will be the longest of the whole Union, and we will have to make sure that a new curtain does not go up along this border (even if it is only a "velvet curtain").
During his press conference, Mr Kwasniewski answered questions on: - the European defence policy. I have talked to President Chirac and Chancellor Schröder about this, and they have assured me that no initiatives in this field will either duplicate or compete with NATO work: and so I agree; - Poland's involvement in the stabilisation phase in Iraq. We have much experience in this area, in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and we also took part in missions to Korea in the 1950s, said Mr Kwasniewski, and our general view is that passivity can sometimes be more dangerous than active participation. If human rights are violated, if a totalitarian regime is oppressing a population, and if diplomatic routes have been exhausted, he added, we feel that recourse to military action in all solidarity (he particularly stressed that word) is justified; - Joschka Fischer, Foreign Affairs Minister for the Union. He would be a quality candidate, with good chances of success. If he hesitates, tell him that he will have Poland's support; the new Constitutional Treaty. Will we have to change the Polish constitution? Not at all, but the Polish President felt that it may be necessary to check. As to ratification, each country will have to consider whether they wish to or feel they should hold a referendum.