Mr President, the purpose of today’s discussions, in the opinion of my group, must be that we restore faith in the idea that we are in earnest when it comes to enlargement. It is true that in talks with the countries involved in the first stage, which have lasted two years, we have not yet got around to dealing with the most difficult issues and we have not yet seriously managed to discuss agricultural policy, Structural Funds or issues of freedom of movement. Our job here today is to speed up the process whereby we can begin to discuss these issues. The process has to some extent lost credibility as a result of this sort of hesitancy and groping around in the dark. If we look at what is happening in our own Member States, we might say that quite often the remark is reiterated that, in fact, accession on the part of the new countries will only be by their own efforts. This should not be, however. We really must demand of ourselves, and the European Union too, significant changes as far as the Union is concerned. If we look at what is happening in the applicant countries we notice that they are not just awaiting membership enthusiastically. Let me mention Estonia, as an example. Estonia is a small country, which belonged to a sort of union. There they are very careful to point out they are unwilling to rejoin any sort of bureaucratic union. We also have to take this criticism seriously. Our group requires target dates to be set at the Nice summit or immediately afterwards, by which negotiations on membership should be concluded. This is vital for us, the European Union, in order for us to be able to set targets for ourselves with regard to completing our own internal reforms. Commissioner Verheugen mentioned corruption, but I would like to mention the fact that we cannot infect future Member States with bad administrative practice either. We must also take our own administrative reforms very seriously if we also wish to root out corruption in future Member States, as transparency and good administration are the best guarantee that there is no corruption. Secondly the target dates are necessary because we must boost the efforts of the applicant countries in their quest for membership. Our group believes that it is quite possible, if we are so determined, to include the first group of applicant countries already in the next European parliamentary elections, if there is determination on both sides to do so. Each country must obviously be appraised on its own merits individually. The next natural opportunity would be the European parliamentary elections that follow in 2009, but we would like to push for as many countries as possible joining in 2004. We support the Commission in its quest for a realistic, serious and honest debate on the political questions of enlargement. Commissioner Verheugen, you may rely on the support of our group when you say you want to find real political answers to real political questions. It is gratifying to hear your policy in this matter. Finally, I would like to speak about financing. Our group does not entirely believe that the present level of financing agreed in the financial framework is sufficient, and so we are prepared to discuss any amendment to the financial perspectives. One quite simple way to proceed would be – as funds have been set aside anyway for five new Member States after 2002, if they happen to join the Union – to use these funds in future for this support preceding membership. Above all we need commitment and that is what the European Parliament, for its part, must demonstrate in this debate and when taking decisions.

Political group: Verts-ALE