A late awakening. It has taken a long while to stir but the awakening is real. Just as EU membership becomes a reality for eight countries of Central and Eastern Europe, we are seeing a welcome proliferation of initiatives and comments to celebrate the event and to explain to the public what it all means. Until now, the media has only placed emphasis on the difficulties or controversial aspects, such as the progressive nature of Community aid to farmers in Eastern Europe, the precautionary measures for the free movement of workers, the fears concerning relocation of the productive activities from old Member States to new Member States … Such problems and differences should not have been hidden. It was a natural thing for them to be commented on, sometimes critically. But the rule that gloomy information is also worthy of attention was applied in a sometimes excessive manner. When during a negotiation session four or five chapters were settled in one go, the press only spoke of a sixth chapter remaining open (sometimes for a trifle). I consider that the attitude adopted by the media on either side has, in addition to the lack of enthusiasm shown by a considerable part of the political class, contributed to causing tepid interest and reserve on the part of the public. Of course there have been exceptions, such as the position taken by Jacques Delors affirming from the beginning that enlargement to the east was a duty for the EU and that it was necessary to call it "reunification" rather than enlargement, or the premonitory book by Pierre Lequiller after a trip to Central and Eastern Europe - but such exceptions were rare, or almost …
Accelerated development. Fortunately, the wind has turned in recent days. The historic significance of the event has finally been understood and proclaimed. Enlargement to the east puts an end to the artificial and cruel split through Europe which had lasted for half a century. It represents reunification between countries that essentially share the same history, the same values, the same ambitions and the same hopes. Economic progress is naturally one of the aims of the operation, but such progress is subject to affirmation of fundamental values (as at the birth of European unity): definitive reconciliation between countries that had often fought against each other, freedom, democracy, and respect of human rights. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have certainly not waited for the day of accession before moving along these lines, but for some aspects (minority rights, for example) the need to respect the "Copenhagen criteria" has most likely speeded up the way things have developed. Furthermore and above all, within the EU, the body of law and the commitments become definitive and permanent (in addition, with the Constitution if there is one, the "solidarity clause" and the obligation for mutual support in the case of aggression).
Some risks are exaggerated: Several journalistic investigations, which have sometimes proven very interesting, have highlighted the scope of the event. Several political decision-makers have highlighted it as it deserves to be highlighted. Many demonstrations have been and are to be organised, giving the accession day a solemn yet joyous air. Television and the press will be there to report on it and one can hope that this turning point in the history of Europe will finally be seen from a positive viewpoint. Of course, the perplexities and fear, the doubts and hesitations will not be swept away (but will be present on both sides, among both old and new Member States), but it is important that a number of analyses have been able to prove that some risks have been exaggerated. I shall not, for now, go back over the rather unpleasant affair of temporary restrictions to the free movement of workers, as I have nothing to add to what I wrote in this column on 9 March (with a supplement in that of 17 March). What the Commission has written on the relocation of productive activities to the east, in its document on industrial policy, should contribute to a more balanced assessment of the phenomenon (see this column yesterday). I could go on to give other examples.
Also, and above all, the new Member States will take part immediately, with full right, in all the new EU developments, whether it is a matter of finalisation and approval of the Constitution or the development of Community policies currently on the table: economic governance (with review of Stability Pact application); management of immigration and asylum policy; coordination of the fight against terrorism; the new regional and cohesion policy; or the financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013. I believe that is what is essential - we shall be building everything together.
Today I have only spoken of membership by countries of Central and Eastern Europe, not mentioning the two Mediterranean islands. A gloom has been cast over accession by Cyprus with the negative referendum as we all know. Next week I shall complete the comments on this subject published in this column on 28 April. (F.R.)