European politician pronounces
himself in favour of a broad dialogue for creatively shaping the future
Europe. Prerequisites for enlargement should be created both within the
EU and in the candidates for entry
Pick up again suggestions of
Jacques Delors
An EU policy that would create
jobs guaranteeing people’s existence and a modern, effective social
system and that would make a significant contribution to peace, security
and democracy in Europe and in the world, according to the opinion of
the European deputy André Brie (Left Party), can only be reached in the
dialogue with the women and men citizens, in democratic and public
discussions and by way of strong rights for the Parliament. The
politicians declared this on Monday evening at a meeting of the European
Parliament and the national parliaments on the future of Europe. “The
free market in Europe and the free competition for location by the
member states against each other will only achieve the contrary”,
following Brie. In this context, he pronounced himself among other
things for seizing again on previous proposals by Jacques Delors
concerning elements of a European economic regulation and a European
social union.
Before the background of the
parliamentary debate over the deadline for accession of Bulgaria and
Rumania to the EU, the deputy advocated the continuation of the
enlargement policy: “I consider additional entries to be justified if
the people concerned desire this and if the conditions in terms of
democracy, human rights and other demands are fulfilled. On the Western
Balkan, this can make a decisive contribution to the solution of
conflicts; for Turkey, for instance, the EU perspective – at least for a
while – has been a decisive motif for long overdue efforts for
democratisation.” At the same time, Brie emphasised that an “enlargement
that threatened the capacity for deepened integration” was “not
acceptable”. This, however, should not be “an argument for the refusal
and discrimination of states willing and capable of entry”. The EU in
turn should create the preconditions for entry, and in this context, a
European constitution assumed decisive importance.
Brussels,
May 9, 2006 -
Translated by Carla Krüger,
May 16, 2006
