Brussels, 20/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on Monday, Wilfried Martens, the president of the European People's Party (EPP), presented a declaration to the press. This is expected to be adopted by the heads of the EPP on Saturday during a special summit in Berlin. On 25 March, EU heads of state and government and Commission and EP presidents will sign the “Berlin Declaration”, the official declaration on the 50th anniversary of the EU.
The EPP declaration immediately underlines the key role played by Christian Democrats in European construction (Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi, Helmut Kohl). It emphasises that the EPP has become the “leading force” in the EU. Successive enlargements are welcomed and homage paid to the citizens of the new member states of Central and Eastern Europe who, over decades “resisted Soviet and Communist oppression”. On future enlargement, the EPP affirms that: “A perspective of accession is given on the condition of fulfilment of the necessary conditions on the side of the applicant countries and given the capacity to integrate on the side of the European Union”. The EPP declaration also underlines, “the European Union, as a community of values, is based on democracy, freedom and inalienable human rights”. It stresses Europe's “Judeo-Christian roots and common cultural heritage, as well as the classic and humanist history…and the period of enlightenment…”
The EPP wants “a strong Europe based on subsidiarity and cultural diversity” and opposes and proposal to simply turn Europe into a free-trade zone. The declaration also emphasises that “the Community method…is the most appropriate for solving Europe's common problems”. The declaration mentions the Union's challenges: more democracy and transparency, improved competitiveness, social responsibility, the fight against climate change and terrorism. The Constitutional Treaty is not directly mentioned in the EPP text. It simply says, “in view of the recent enlargement of the European Union, we now have to enhance its capacity to act, strengthen solidarity between the member states and to reduce bureaucracy”. (gc)