Celebrating a historic leap forward

Date: 28/04/05

On 1 May 2004, the European Union grew to include ten new countries from the east, the north and the south of Europe. In so doing, it celebrated the re-unification of a large part of the continent.

Fifteen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the scars caused by the events of the twentieth century were healed. We must never forget that for four decades the word 'democracy' remained an elusive dream for people in most of those countries, whilst for us it was a reality, albeit one which too often we took for granted.

By joining the European Union, Cyprus and Malta put an end to their island isolation at the same time as improving the EU's Mediterranean dimension.

For the first time in history, our diverse peoples live in peace. The EU can be proud of the fact that it has established the rule of law and guaranteed the respect of fundamental rights and sees its members share common values. These are no mean feats.

Now we have to learn to live and work together, to get to know each other better, to adapt to each other's cultures and to understand each other's differences. Only by being aware of what makes us different will we be able to strengthen the cohesion of the Union. It will be an arduous task.

My colleagues from the ten new member states immersed themselves without delay in the complex workings of the European Parliament. They now occupy very important posts within the institution and have produced numerous reports.

We work side by side. We share experiences. The Parliament has gained in political weight, notably during the Ukrainian crisis when members from Poland and Lithuania played an important role.

Europeans are now free to live, to travel, to work and to study within a larger sphere. All now benefit from the policies of the community in areas such as consumer protection and environment. Today, we must come together to address the great challenges that Europe faces.

First amongst these is the great project of the European constitution. The Parliament supported it with 500 votes out of its 732 members. It recognises that an enlarged Europe cannot function on the basis of the Treaty of Nice. Nice was supposed to allow Europe to face up to the challenge of enlargement, but instead established a decision-making system that will draw the EU towards paralysis.

The constitution, on the other hand, allows us to take decisions with 25 members. It bestows on us fundamental rights that each and every citizen can invoke. It brings greater democracy to the institutions by ensuring that the Parliament and the Council of Ministers are on the same footing in almost all community legislation. It introduces a European citizenship that is complementary to national citizenship. It heralds progress that even a few years ago would have been unthinkable.

The constitution simplifies the existing treaties. It sets out very clearly the competences of the Union and the competences of the member states.

Nevertheless, in certain member states where the constitution is being put to a referendum, ratification is not a given. Often the debate has nothing to do with the constitution itself and the options presented to voters are distorted. We should explain to our fellow citizens that the constitution has nothing to with Turkey, nothing to do with the services directive, or with domestic political deadlines. After all, it is they who will have the final word.

There is also the challenge of the financial perspective for 2007-13, which will determine the EU budget for this period. Will the EU allow itself the financial means to respond to enlargement when the Council meets in June? We cannot have a larger Europe with a smaller budget. We cannot talk about solidarity without ensuring the social and territorial cohesion of the Union. We cannot pretend to be the world's greatest economic power without developing innovation and technology or improving access to knowledge.

The Parliament will present its position in June. I am convinced that it will respond to the demands that I have just mentioned. The member states are in the process of negotiating amongst themselves. I hope that they too will respond to these demands. Negotiations between the two institutions will then begin. The Parliament will seek an agreement, but not just any agreement.

With a new constitution and with the right financial means, the EU will find its place in the world of the twenty-first century.

• Josep Borrell is president of the European Parliament.

Author, who is the President of the European Parliament, takes a look at current challenges the European Union is facing one year after the enlargement of 1 May 2004.