One Europe

One Europe will be the rallying-call of the Danish Presidency of the EU, which began last week. One Europe to seal the definitive unwinding of the twentieth century: its wars, divisions, and tragedy. One Europe in pursuit of freedom, security, and justice. One Europe with a competitive and resource-efficient economy. One Europe with food policies for the long- term. One Europe that shoulders its global responsibility for managing international crises, for avoiding new iron curtains in Europe, and for spreading the benefits of globalization.

The bloodiest century in European history started in August 1914. We can end it in December 2002. 1945 brought peace and freedom, but only to some of us. While Western Europe was free to construct common institutions for peace and prosperity, the Soviet Union subjugated our Central and Eastern heartland. The dream of One Europe was put off for almost two generations.

The fall of the Berlin Wall revived that dream. The time has come to realize it. Preparations have been underway for almost a decade since the conditions for membership were first defined in Copenhagen in 1993.

Candidate countries have deployed immense efforts to comply with those conditions. Today the goal is moving from the dream world to the real world. We have a historic chance of closing enlargement negotiations with up to ten countries in Copenhagen in 2002. The EU is determined to make it happen.

Enlargement is the geostrategic choice of a generation. It is about uniting a continent. It is about lasting peace and shared prosperity. We know we can do it. The evidence is the track record of the institutions and policies that enlargement will extend to new members. For decades they have created a zone where war has become unthinkable, where might is not right, where the poorer catch up with the richer. Not only is the EU one of history’s greatest peace projects, it also delivers the goods in terms of higher incomes, more jobs, and greater opportunities for its citizens. One look at the economic transformation of, say, Ireland or Spain since they joined the union suffices to drive home this point.

By enlarging the EU, we will stimulate economies to grow and catch up, adding tens of millions of new consumers to the internal market. The resulting trade and investment will make everyone better off. When some object to the budgetary costs of enlargement and others to transitional periods, the prospect of stimulating growth across Europe is the perspective to keep in mind. One Europe. Lasting stability. Shared prosperity.

This year provides a historic window of opportunity. We must seize it. Room for maneuver in the enlargement negotiations is limited. To make minds meet in Copenhagen, both sides must be flexible and willing to make necessary compromises. Not only do we owe it to the victims of the century that we lay behind, we owe it to the children to come. If we do not grasp the moment it will vanish.

But some candidates will not be able to conclude negotiations this year. A special effort should be made in order to strengthen their prospects. We will also continue the efforts to bring Turkey closer to the EU. The door remains open to the countries of the Balkans too. They chose the path towards Europe as they entered the EU Stabilization and Association Process.

Enlargement will make Russia an even more important partner for the EU. The ultimate goal is far-reaching integration in a Common Economic Space. Together we can prevent a new silver curtain from replacing Europe’s old iron curtain. In parallel with enlargement, we will set the stage for reinforced relations with Russia and the EU’s new neighbors to the East. Our guiding principle always remains One Europe.

While enlargement remains the EU’s most important geostrategic goal, we must shoulder our global responsibility in other ways as well. To this end, we must strengthen the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Not only will we strive to ensure a concerted, clear and speedy reaction to international events and crises, we will also continue the dynamic development of the EU’s crisis management capabilities. As is well known, this will happen in close cooperation with Greece.

The EU has a special responsibility for peace and stability in a world characterized by increasing interdependence. The transatlantic relationship embedded in our shared values remains the bedrock of our global efforts. This applies in particular to the fight against terrorism and to efforts to reduce poverty. We neither can nor should seek to put an end to globalization. But we can and should contribute to spreading the benefits of globalization more evenly. The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the new WTO round are both important means to this end.

Today’s new challenges require common solutions in the form of enhanced cooperation at European and global levels. To ensure the safety and security of our citizens, we must fight terrorism, trafficking in human beings, and international crime. At the same time, we must promote fair and equal treatment of refugees and legal aliens. One Europe in the service of freedom, justice and security.

We must also continually improve the capacity of the EU to deliver the goods expected by its citizens. A competitive, innovative, and resource-efficient economy. One Europe with more jobs, freer competition and simpler and better rules for the benefit of companies, consumers and workers. One Europe able to stand its ground in the coming global competition.

Last but not least, we need food policies for the long term. One Europe with the highest standards of food safety. One Europe that starts pondering how to steer its agricultural policy in a more market oriented and green direction. One Europe with a new fisheries policy that safeguards marine natural resources for the future while taking due account of the importance of the fishing industry to local communities.

The Danish Presidency will consistently put the common interest at the forefront. We intend to achieve results through clear priorities and strong cooperation with all of our partners.