Olli Rehn AP'de konuştu (orjinal metin)

Avrupa Komisyonu üyesi Olli Rehn,Strasbourg'da Avrupa Parlamentosu Genel Kurulu'na hitap etti.ABHaber Rehn'in konuşmasını yayımlıyor:

Olli Rehn
EU Commissioner for Enlargement
Enlargement Package

Strategy Paper at EP Plenary

Strasbourg, 25 November 2009

Mr/Ms President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

First of all, I would like to thank members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and its Chair Gabriele Albertini for a balanced, comprehensive resolution.

I would also like to thank all of you for excellent co-operation over the past years. The European Parliament has helped shape our enlargement policy and set an example for democratic accountability. I look forward to continuing our excellent co-operation in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The EU will take a long-awaited step forward next week when the Lisbon Treaty enters into force. This will start a new era in the EU's foreign policy. Indirectly, it will also cement the EU's renewed consensus on enlargement, based on the 3 Cs of consolidation, conditionality, and communication – combined with an improved capacity to integrate new members.

This will enable us to continue our gradual and carefully managed accession process.

As the draft resolution before you illustrates, enlargement is one of the EU's most powerful foreign policy tools today. Indeed, the EU’s credibility as a global actor stands or falls by our ability to shape our own neighbourhood. It is here that we have achieved our most remarkable successes over the past 20 years of transforming the European continent, of reunifying East and West, and of building a stronger Union.

Enlargement policy was a key driver of this process. And it continues to transform South East Europe today.

Albania 's and Montenegro 's applications for EU membership underscore the Union's continued power of attraction. Iceland 's application adds a new political and geo-economic dimension to our enlargement agenda. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia are both considering submitting an application.

Given the economic crisis, all these countries might easily have turned inward. Instead, they continue to pursue the European orientation, with all the tough choices and bold reforms it entails.

Croatia is nearing the finishing line, after four years of intense accession negotiations. Zagreb now needs to intensify its reform efforts, especially in the judiciary and the fight against corruption and organised crime so negotiations can be concluded. ICTY cooperation remains a must.

We have seen steady progress in Turkey as well. It plays a key role in energy security and in the dialogue between civilisations. Ankara's commitment to normalise relations with Armenia is historic. So is the "Democratic Opening" to resolve the Kurdish question.

But Turkey still has a long way to go. Besides reforms, we expect Turkey to ensure full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Ankara Protocol and to make progress towards the normalisation of relations with Cyprus.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has made convincing progress recently and substantially addressed the key reform priorities. The country fulfils sufficiently the Copenhagen political criteria. These enabled the Commission to recommend the opening of accession negotiations.

I have the impression that the government in Skopje has – rightly – seen our recommendation as an encouragement finally to settle the name issue with Greece. There is now a new context, new debate and a new window of opportunity that I hope both Skopje and Athens will capitalise on.

There has been good news in Serbia , too. Belgrade has demonstrated its commitment to EU integration, not least by implementing the Interim Agreement with the EU unilaterally. And the ICTY is now satisfied with Serbia's efforts, as Chief Prosecutor Brammertz confirms in his recent report. I agree with your draft resolution to unblock the agreement. It is high time to allow Serbia to move to the next stage of its European journey.

Bosnia and Herzegovina presents its own challenges, partly due to its wartime history. But let me be clear. There can be no "discounts" in EU enlargement. Bosnia's application for EU membership can only be considered once the OHR has closed. Bosnia also needs to undertake constitutional changes, in part to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. Respect for human rights is a founding principle of the EU.

Together with the Presidency and the US, we have proposed a package of reforms to achieve this. I hope, for the sake of their citizens and for the region as a whole, that the Bosnian leaders will rise to the occasion and reach an agreement. The EU and the United States are engaged at the highest levels because we want Bosnia to succeed. I believe it can.

As for Kosovo, stability has been maintained but remains fragile. The Commission has presented a study on how to promote Kosovo's socio-economic development and anchor it in Europe. We identify eventual visa facilitation and trade as flagships, once the conditions have been met.

Mr President, Honourable Members,

We set out together an ambitious but, in retrospect, realistic agenda 5 years ago when I started my mandate as Enlargement Commissioner. During my hearings, I told this Parliament that by 2009 I wanted to see:

an EU of 27 Member States;

the accession process with Croatia reaching its final stage;

the other Western Balkan countries anchored in the EU through SAAs;

Turkey firmly on the European track;

Kosovo's status settled; and

Cyprus reunified.

I am proud that – with the noticeable exception of Cyprus, where settlement talks are still ongoing – nearly all our ambitions have materialised. We have worked together for these worthy goals, and made a difference. And even Cyprus may still happen, to the benefit of all its citizens and the EU.

Besides, though I hoped for it, I did not dare to forecast progress on visa liberalisation 5 years ago. Yet here we are, one month away from turning the dream of the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into reality. We hope to do the same for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina next year, once they meet the conditions.

It is also an important reminder to all of us who work with South East Europe of how attractive the European dream remains for millions of citizens in our immediate neighbourhood.

Let's keep that dream alive – and in time, make it a reality!

Thank you for your attention.

ABHaber, 25-11-2009 17.03 (TSİ)