Speech Barroso voor parlement in Macedonië (en)

vrijdag 17 februari 2006

José Manuel Barroso

President of the European Commission 

1.

Reforming for a European future

Parliament of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Skopje, 17 February 2006

President,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here today. This is my first visit not only to Skopje, but to the whole Western Balkans region, since I became President of the European Commission. During this visit, I have been greatly encouraged by what I have learned, and impressed by the determination of all the leaders here to see their countries make progress towards the EU.

The period ahead is a challenging one, both for the EU and the Western Balkans. For its part, the European Union and its Member States need to release the EU's potential for economic growth and create more jobs - the core objectives of the Lisbon Agenda.

We need to improve the way we work and legislate. We need to tackle international challenges, whether combating terrorism or climate change. We need to continue our debate about the future of Europe. European integration is about both deepening political and economic integration, and widening the Union geographically to those countries that meet the appropriate criteria.

But the Western Balkan countries also face challenges. A successful conclusion to the Kosovo status talks is important, for the stability of the whole region. It is therefore important that all countries of the region support this process. A resolution of this issue will allow the whole region to move forward.

The EU learned a long time ago that many challenges can only be addressed through regional cooperation. And what is true for the EU is also true for the Western Balkans. Individual countries cannot resolve issues such as economic growth, refugee return, infrastructure development and the environment on their own.

Regional cooperation has therefore been at the core of our policy for this region, in the same way that regional cooperation is the very essence of the European Union. Regional cooperation in the Western Balkans is not a process that is separate from the pre-accession process. It is an integral part of it. You have been active in promoting regional cooperation - and I encourage you to continue to play an active role.

That is also why we support the rapid conclusion of a regional Free Trade Agreement. This would promote regional trade and make the region more attractive for foreign investors. We will reinforce support for small businesses, not least because private entrepreneurship should be the foundation of your economic development.

In this respect, our policies for the Western Balkans reflect those we are applying to ourselves, through the Lisbon Agenda for Growth and Jobs. I encourage you to include these objectives in your own policies and action plans.

Let me now turn to your country.

Only a few years ago, the stability of this nation was threatened by internal conflict. Today, it is a stable democracy that is set firmly on the road towards EU membership.

When President Romano Prodi visited Skopje in 2004, he expressed his wish to see the enlargement process reach Skopje. It has. In December last year, the European Council decided to grant you candidate status. We made clear, once and for all, that your future is in the European Union. Giving you the status of candidate country meant that the EU recognised the progress which you have made in the past few years, and your strong political will to tackle the outstanding priorities and challenges.

Candidate status is first and foremost a political recognition. The decision to open the accession negotiations will be taken separately. Negotiations can only start when you have reached a sufficient degree of compliance with the membership criteria.

I am impressed by your achievements to date. The principle of multi-ethnicity is firmly embedded in your constitution and is now in the process of being implemented throughout the country. Diversity has become a guarantee for the unity of the country. In this respect, you are a model for other countries in the region.

After substantial reform, notably through decentralisation, your public services are gradually changing the way they provide services to the citizens. The police and judiciary are on the threshold of radical change. In a number of areas, laws have been changed or new laws adopted and you are in the process of adopting European standards. The economy is moving in the right direction and is stable enough to allow real progress on structural reform to proceed.

This has been possible because of individuals who believe that only bold reforms and courageous compromises can bring about a better future. I remember well my meetings with the late President Trajkovski, who was committed to his country's European future. The trauma and divisions of the past have been replaced by a model where all citizens share the same principles and the same vision.

The EU has done its utmost to facilitate these reforms. But the lion's share of the burden has been on your shoulders - and you have delivered. The reforms taking place in your country are opening up new perspectives and possibilities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The citizens of this country will only benefit from your efforts if reforms are implemented to the full. For the EU, implementation will be the litmus test that measures your commitment and abilities. Much work remains to be done - there is no time for complacency, as I discussed with the Prime Minister this afternoon.

The Parliament has a key role to play in the European integration process. As a legislature which has responsibility to monitor and exert control over the executive, you have to make sure that commitments are followed through, that plans are translated into concrete action, and that adequate resources are provided.

The forthcoming elections will be a challenge. The political leadership, and all citizens of the country, should spare no effort in making sure that the elections are held according to European standards. The EU has high expectations of you as a candidate country.

The next steps are clear. You need to demonstrate significant progress in addressing both the weaknesses highlighted in the Commission's Opinion, and the priorities in the European Partnership, before any further steps can be considered. As has been true of all candidate countries since the first enlargement in 1973, you have to fulfil the political, economic, legal and administrative criteria. You will need to demonstrate that you are able to assume the obligations of EU membership. It is your own achievements which will determine the pace of your progress to the next stage.

The EU and the Commission will assist you. We have already given technical assistance and training to hundreds of civil servants in virtually all Ministries. We have helped you to create and equip a number of new institutions and to develop your infrastructure. We will continue to do this and our efforts will increase, in parallel with your own efforts to strengthen your capacity to handle EU funds.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Western Balkans remain a high priority for the EU. In its recent Communication on the Western Balkans, the Commission set out a broad range of measures that will help you in your efforts to consolidate stability further and raise prosperity in the region.

We need to equip a new generation in this country with the knowledge and skills expected of European leaders. We will increase our support to education and research by putting in place more scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, and for researchers from the region. The new regional School for Higher Education in Public Administration Reform should also open its doors this year.

I am aware of the importance you attach to the visa issue. This year, the Commission will make proposals to ease visa requirements, starting with your country. Measures to simplify travel by researchers and students, as well as local travel across borders shared with the EU, are also about to be implemented.

Let me conclude by making a more general observation. The prospect of EU membership has transformed countries and societies across Europe, including my own. It has served as a motor of reform and a stabilising factor.

The EU made a concrete offer to you last December. Now is the time to embrace this opportunity, by addressing the reforms which will bring you to your rightful place at the heart of Europe. No-one is saying it will be easy. Turning dreams of membership into a reality has always been a process which takes time and effort. That is because the process of transition is in many ways even more important than the final destination.

But you can count on our support as you make this transition. We both have a responsibility to meet the expectations which all our citizens share: greater prosperity and stability. Together, we can deliver on those expectations.

Thank you.