Mr President, I want to propose that we should adopt item 6 in the following form: ‘... recognises that peace and security have been crucial factors in the decision of the candidate countries to join the European Union and that special responsibilities consequently lie with the Union to strengthen transatlantic ties on the basis of European strength and equal rights.’ I can imagine that we would then be able to lay to rest the misgivings others have, and come to a common position on this. (Applause) The President established that there were no objections to the oral amendment. (Parliament adopted the resolution) *** President. – Colleagues, the time to choose has now come. This is the only Parliament in Europe that has the right to say 'yes' or 'no', state by state, to the candidate countries now before us. It is the defining moment of a very long process. We have all had the chance to weigh up the arguments and now we are called upon, on the record, before our public and also before history, to take our stand on this issue. Recommendation (A5-0089/2003) by Jürgen Schröder on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application of the Czech Republic to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 C5-0115/2003 – 2003/0901(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0090/2003) by Michael Gahler on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Estonia to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0116/2003 – 2003/0901A(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0091/2003) by Jacques F. Poos on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Cyprus to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0117/2003 – 2003/0901B(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0092/2003) by Elisabeth Schroedter on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Latvia to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0118/2003 – 2003/0901C(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0093/2003) by Ioannis Souladakis on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Lithuania to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0119/2003 – 2003/0901D(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0094/2003) by Luís Queiró on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Hungary to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0120/2003 – 2003/0901E(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0095/2003) by Ursula Stenzel on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Malta to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0121/2003 – (2003/0901F(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0096/2003) by Jas Gawronski on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Poland to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0122/2003 – 2003/0901G(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0097/2003) by Demetrio Volcic on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Republic of Slovenia to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0123/2003 – 2003/0901H(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** Recommendation (A5-0098/2003) by Jan Marinus Wiersma on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy on the application by the Slovak Republic to become a member of the European Union (AA-AFNS 1-6 – C5-0124/2003 – 2003/0901I(AVC)) (Parliament gave its assent) *** President. – Colleagues, through the overwhelmingly positive vote this morning we have given a simple and clear political message: the time for enlargement has come and that time is now. (Applause) I believe that the feelings and emotions that have informed our debate here today, as well as the many other debates we have held on this subject, also represent a very decisive choice by this House, representing the peoples of the European Union of 15. That is a choice to put an end to a Europe fractured by its barbaric twentieth century and to create for the 21st Century a Europe reconciled and united around common ideals and values. (Applause) *** The President invited the President-in-Office of the Council, the Commissioner for Enlargement and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy to watch him sign the formal letters announcing Parliament's assent to the applications made by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to become Member States of the European Union. *** President. – I should like, at this stage, on my own behalf and on that of the House, to thank those members of staff in different services who, despite their legitimate concerns about their acquired rights and the future of the public service in Europe, decided to respect the instructions of their services in order to ensure that this historic decision could be made in a supportive and appropriate manner. In their cooperation and professionalism they have maintained the highest standards of public service, something which, in this House, we respect, we shall promote, and we shall defend. (Applause) *** Parliament's calendar of part-sessions (2004) Before the vote:

Political group: PPE-DE