And this also involves change within the European Union. In a month, the European Council will meet in Nice for the Inter-Governmental Conference. Enlargement is of vital importance for the political and economic future of Europe. The European Union has already been enlarged successfully on a number of occasions. But the next phase of enlargement is on an unprecedented scale.
Negotiations are under way with twelve countries.
Clearly, enlargement on this scale is a major undertaking. The EU must do everything in its power to ensure that this historic step is a success. Hence radical proposals for change are on the table. Structures must be simplified and procedures lightened if a much bigger European Union is to take effective decisions. Significant progress was made at the informal European Council in Biarritz last month.