Madam President, my thanks go to the Minister for her most comprehensive presentation. The Social Democrats here in Parliament are very keen to participate already at this stage in the debate on these important issues. The removal of obstacles on the road to economic and cultural interaction lies at the heart of European co-operation. With the single market we wish to improve Europe’s capacity for responding to global competition and thereby create conditions to improve the welfare of our citizens. Free movement also carries with it the threat of a growth in international crime, which citizens in various parts of Europe feel today is one of the greatest causes for concern. On the other hand, increased co-operation among the Member States will compel us to examine citizens’ rights from a European viewpoint, one that is broader than that pertaining to the individual state. In this connection, we must emphasise the importance of non-discrimination and the realisation of the rights of minorities. I also wish to express my satisfaction regarding Mrs Halonen’s urgent call in her speech for the implementation of Article 13 of the Treaty on European Unity, and I too would like to see initiatives from the Commission on this issue. The European Council meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October will be a historic attempt to shape EU common policy in the prevention of cross-border crime, and in the creation of a European judicial area and a common policy on immigration and asylum. One of the main issues of the meeting is that of fundamental rights as recognised under the Treaty of Amsterdam, including the right of citizens to security. Effective crime prevention requires closer co-operation among Member States, which in practice means the co-ordination of legislation and better co-ordination with respect to co-operation with the police and the investigation of crime. It is also important to invest in the prevention of crime, which is naturally a matter of considerably broader scope than an issue merely for legislative policy. Safeguarding the free movement of our citizens and the flexible creation of legislation on the subject will require the adoption of the practice of majority ruling in Union legislation. In reality, it is a question of the implementation, among other things, of the Schengen Convention. By strengthening the role of the Union in the creation of a European judicial area, and in the prevention of international crime, we can, at the same time, dispel suspicions that are known to exist regarding closer European co-operation. Our job will be to show that this is an integral part of European co-operation and, in this way, we will be responding to the worries expressed by our citizens. These matters also concern the period following enlargement; in other words, the demands being made on the applicant countries. Closer co-operation will also create a basis for unhampered interaction with the Union’s neighbouring regions. Clarity, transparency and ethically sustainable action must be the guiding principle behind European decision-making, whether it is a matter of the Union’s internal administrative culture or of ensuring the rights and security of our citizens. We need the co-operation of various players, so that these principles may also reach the attention of the people. The NGOs have an important task to perform. The fact that Parliament is debating this important subject right now, well before the Extraordinary Summit at Tampere, indicates that the spirit of the Treaty of Amsterdam is being realised in the way intended. In compliance with the same principle, it is important to assure Parliament that it will be represented on an equal basis with the Council when the Union prepares to draft the Charter in respect of the fundamental rights of citizens. (Applause)

Political group: PSE