Riga
23 November 2007
Dear participants of the Conference,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Can I first thank the delegations of Latvia, the Presidency of the
Baltic Council of Ministers and the Baltic Assembly, for the initiative to hold
the Conference “The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy”. Although
this issue is broadly discussed at various events, I believe we should revisit
it repeatedly thus contribute to the development and progress of the ENP.
Since its launch in 2002 the European
Neighbourhood Policy proved its
merits as a comprehensive framework for EU relations with the neighbouring
countries to the East and the South. The recent years experience, however,
clearly indicates that it is essential to fine-tune the EU policy to the
specific needs and problems of both regions.
With the appearance of the two Neighbourhood Policy dimensions, the
Southern and the Eastern ones, it became obvious that the development of the
latter was lagging behind even though this has not been formally recognised
yet. Due to cultural differences, different historic experiences, different
paces of the implementation of democratic and market economy reforms, as well
as due to different aspirations of these countries to development of relations
with the EU, the European Neighbourhood Policy - East and South cannot be
homogeneous.
A difference between European Neighbours and Neighbours of
Europe has gradually crystallised and eventually evolved within the
European Neighbourhood Policy.
There are several non-EU countries, which can be referred to as European
Neighbours. They are characterised by their aspirations to the European values
of democracy, free market, rule of law, respect for human rights and for
freedom of speech, and cultural diversity.
They have already achieved, or are on the right track to full conformity
to EU social and economic standards. Most European Neighbours have an
ultimate goal of acceding to the EU regardless of how long it might take.
Some European Neighbours are already technically capable of
joining the EU but they do not apply for EU membership, as is the case with
Norway and Switzerland. Other European Neighbours have a recognised
perspective of EU membership (e.g. the Western Balkan countries and Turkey).
There is another group of European
Neighbours in the East, which includes Ukraine, Moldova and the South
Caucasus countries. Just like the Western Balkan countries, they have declared their wish to join
the EU and are already carrying out political and economic reforms that would
bring them closer to the EU, but they are not granted a membership perspective.
And yet these countries’ belonging to Europe is indisputable.
Finally, there is another large and important group of non-EU countries
that can be called Neighbours of Europe. They are close to the EU but
neither pursue EU membership nor have any plans to do so in the future. The
Mediterranean countries fall into this category. The EU should continue
intensive cooperation with these countries in different formats.
The Neighbourhood Policy towards the Eastern European Neighbours
should firmly rest on the concept of ‘integration’, primarily focusing on
economic/sector integration and the internal market. Such integration would
provide a sufficient framework for both the EU and its East European Neighbours
to develop mutual cooperation and to expand the area of stability across the
Eastern EU border. Their EU membership is not the question, which the EU would
seek to answer immediately and at any cost. Rather, it is a long-term issue.
The process of EU enlargement has proved to be the most effective tool
in transforming the political and economic environment of the neighbouring
countries until the time of accession comes.
After the last successful enlargement, the new periphery has become
increasingly important for the EU’s internal and external security. The
European Neighbourhood Policy provides a real opportunity for the EU to
redefine its relations with those countries. The overall aim should be to offer
to the neighbouring countries closer cooperation in the areas of mutual
interest, as well as greater European integration in return for political and
economic reforms.
It is premature to discuss whether Eastern European Neighbours
will use the opportunity envisaged by Article 49 of the Treaty on European
Union, which stipulates that any European state may apply for European Union
membership. We believe the EU should neither impose political restrictions nor
make attempts to close the door in front of such countries as Ukraine and
Moldova, which have repeatedly expressed their aspiration to join the EU. It is
vitally important to avoid drawing new dividing lines in Europe. We, the Baltic
States, know the consequences of such diving lines.
The ENP has been conceived to bring the neighbouring countries closer to
the EU. The added value of the ENP is to give membership perspective to some
Eastern European countries, i.e. proceed from cooperation to gradual
integration. The ENP can serve as an instrument for integration only in case
the countries make such a choice themselves.
The question of new contractual relations between the EU and the
neighbouring countries is not urgent and might be dealt with in the future, if
those countries make a significant progress in terms of political, economic and
administrative reforms.
Although the ENP and the European Enlargement Policy are considered to
be distinct policies, some neighbouring countries’ aspirations to EU membership
should not be disregarded and their motivation power and stimulus for reforms
should not be underestimated. I have already noted that although there is no
direct link between the Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policies, the
implementation of the latest ENP proposals concerning liberalisation of trade,
approximation of legislation, and standards, etc. would facilitate the
accession process once the political situation is ripe.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is not long ago
that Lithuania and the other Baltic States were the object of the Neighbourhood
Policy. Thanks to EU support at that time we managed to meet membership
requirements. Today we are ready to provide this kind of support to new Neighbourhood
Policy countries. To this end the Centre for Parliamentary Cooperation designed
for the development of parliamentary cooperation and experience sharing with
ENP countries has been established in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
Last week the first
large-scale event was organised in Vilnius – the conference Constitutional
Principles of Authority Structure. Representatives from the old EU Member
States – Ireland, Germany and Finland, as well as guests from the European
Neighbours – Georgia and Moldova attended the conference. We believe debates on
such a significant matter as an authority structure of a state and interaction
between its institutions was beneficial to Lithuanian parliamentarians while
targeted sharing of European democratic experience will be a considerable
contribution to accelerating the momentum of democratic processes in Georgia
and Moldova.
Taking this
opportunity, I would like to invite your countries’ parliaments and experts to
contribute to the future events arranged by our Centre for Parliamentary
Cooperation.
I thank the
organisers of the Conference for its smooth flow, for the team of competent
speakers and the friendly atmosphere. I wish you productive work at the plenary
and group meetings, valuable discussions and pleasant social intercourse.
Thank you for your
attention.
