Draft of the address of Prime minister of Czech republic Vladimir Spidla in Copenhagen

Draft of the address  of Prime minister of Czech republic Vladimir Spidla on parliamentary miniconference organised by the Commitee for european affairs of  danish Parliament in Copenhagen the 9th of September 2002 "Czech republic on the way to EU - efforts and results":

Dear Mr.Chairman
Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me, in the beginning of my speech, to thank for the possibility to visit danish parliament and in the same time to share with you my opinions on the present processes in European Community and       
its forthcoming progress. Initially let me to express my opinion  that regardless to deepening of         
integration measures in European Community, the quality of relations in this community depends also on the quality of mutual relations between member countries. In this connection I am glad that the czech-danish relations are excellent not only in the present but that our bonds reach far back in the history.

In the danish medieval history entered positively queen Dagmar - czech princess Marketa Premysl. In the church of Sct. Bendt in Ringsted, where she was, side by side with her husband, king Valdemar, burried, has been in twenties of past century installed tablet, which is in czech and danish languages expressing the wish that both nations would strive after common friendship, understanding and rapprochment with same success as czech princess in Denmark in the begining of 13. century.

Now, at the beginning of 21. century, czech nation is - together with the nations of 9 other countries - preparing to make a crucial step to ultimate antiquation of the divison established after the second world war. And Denmark is now in the position of that who as a chairman country of European Community will iniciate and push forward the completion of this historical rapprochment. It is evident that the priority of the danish chairmanship is not only reflection of danish political elite wishies but it is founded on the danish public opinion which permanently shows one of the highest supports of the enlargments process between all member countries. The politician in many other member countries would, surely, like to know the secret of danish helpfulness.

Naturally, the parallel with the queen Dagmar who could gain the affection of her new country through personnal qualities and conduct is only partial. The important role in overcoming
sometimes still existing distrust have the personal contacts. For example during the recent flood we could make us sure of the strong expressions of solidarity streaming to Prague from individuals and groupes  which had stayed in this town and which got to like it.

Let me on this occassion, to thank you frankly for effective humanitarian help/aid sent to us from danish government after our country was hit/afflicted by catastrophic flood of unprecedented extent. We know that  solidarity is peculiar to the danish society and we highly appreciate the promptness and readiness with which the help/aid has been carried out. We value also all expressions of sympathy from danish public which convince us again about the existence of traditional friendly contacts between our countries. In the time being we negotiate with the European Commission about the conditions for drawing the help from European Community. We bank on, between others,  the support of danish chairmanship in order to find, together with Euroepan Commission, the most simple and most effective way of help/aid implementation. We highly appreciate the promptness with which European Commission was able to respond to the supreme meeting of four countries hit by devastating flood. The foundation of Found for damages removal, where the member and cadidates countries will be equal is practical example that the extension of European Community is the fact.

Removing the consequencies of nature disaster will be long-term affair. I consider it necessary to stress that our readiness to join the European Community will not be endangered by current tasks with which we have to deal by reconstruction of our country after the flood. Our citizens have already proved big resolution and persistence and czech government will do its best to overcome in the shortest time the consequencies of the flood. We believe that we in our effort from now on rely on the true solidarity which exists between member countries of European Community and makes one of the foundation stones of european integration. Czech government is good aware of the fact - and let me mention this fact also in your presence - that the visibleness  of the help form European Community in removing flood damages could have considerable impact also on strengthenning the positive perception of european integration process by czech public, on deeper understanding of union as solidary community of values.

We highly appreciate that Denmark unequivocally called the concluding of the Community enlargement the priority of its chairmanship. Danish concepts of apportionment of negotiations final phase we consider as reasonable and we hope that constructive approach will be demonstrated not only by the candidates countries to which appealed in this sense the Summit of European Community in Sevilla but also by all members of Community. In accordance with declaration of my government program the strategic priority of Czech republic is the completion of preparations for the membership in European community and in the same time the conclusion of negotiations in that way that Czech republic will become the member of European Community by 1st january 2004. We expect that European Commission will publish in the middle of October the regular evaluation reports on candidates countries and on the base of this evaluation will recommend which cadidates could till the end of the year conclude the admission negotiations. According to our knowledge there is no hindrance for Czech republic to be between them.

Czech republic made in last years  big effort in preparations for memebrship. Generally we are prepared for admission. From total 31 negotations chapters we have already concluded 25, the remaining 6 are in the final phase of negotation. There remains to be negotiated some of precisely defined questions, as for example question of cabotage in chapter Transport or the representaion of Czech republic in European parliament in chapter Institutions. We don´t think that accelerated closing of chapters at all costs would be in Czech republic or European Community interest. We would like to be as credible and equal partner for other member countris as possible, we would like to be able to fulfill the undertaken commitments without reservation and to posses in the same time major support or at least understanding on the domestic political and economical stage and naturally among citizens.

During the negotations with European community we generally struggle for constructive and realistic attitude as we are being asked by Community and we expect the same. Our opinion is that the enlargement coudn´t be connected with the discussion about the reform of Common agricultural policy beause of existing danger that by mutual conditioning not even one goal could be reached. We are ready to and we want to conclude the admmission negotiations by the end of this year, but not for all costs. We ask for and we expect the principle of equal treatment of existing as well as future member countries in European Community. We don´t demand some privilegies but only consistent applications of acquis communautaire which is, for that matter, strictly required from our country by Community. We stress that new member countries have to join the European Community under condition which will enable them the competitiveness with existing members, also in agriculture. Czech republic doesn´t want, after joining the European community, to become only import country without own production. Likewise we are convinced that the budget position of new members after joining the Community should distinctly improve compared with previous situation.

These are conditions which will enable us to achieve considerable "yes" in referendum planned for next year. Our country doesn´t have the tradition of organizing referendums comparable with Denmark and for the sole organisation of referendum it will be still necessary to change the relevant domestic legislation.

Czech government pursues so called communication strategy oriented to wide public, with the target to explain to the citizens the perspective of membership in European Community and to persuade them about the necessity and usefulness of this membership. The results of governmental communication strategy are not, of course, hundred percent succesful but the czech public - especially students and young people- are showing the real interest in it. Public opinion surveys show that unequivocally for joining the Community are stable 41 to 49 percent of citizens. Naturally it doesn´t mean that all others are against. Approximately 25 percent of citizens doesn´t have any opinion about joining the European Community and the remaining 25 percent are against it. At the same time, not all citizens intend to take part in planned referendum about joining. Out of these who intend to take part in referendum, there are about 70 percent for joining and 30 percent against.

Ladies and gentlemen

Our existing experiences lead us to the conclusion that Czech republic has in Denmark powerfull ally in promotion of its european and euroatlantic affairs. I would like to assure you that similarly Denmark can count on Czech republic on international niveau. I think that our activities in the frame of NATO make already evidence of this and I think that I will be able to state the same about our activity in European Community as soon as Czech republic will become the full member.

Our mutual relations since 1989 are dynamically developing in the political, economic and social field,  there are opening new ways to equal cooperation and opportunities to further mutual rapprochment. To deeper mutual cooperation contributes among other comparable size of both our countries, similar accent on equal position of bigger and smaller member countries in European Community, considerable complementarity of our economic systems and therefore limited possibility for conflicts of economical interests, comparable role of European community in the share of  foreign trade of both countries, the same attitude to observance of human and civil rights and nonexistence of negative historical reminiscences  in mutual relations.

         The common interest of both our countries exists also in the field of solution of the problems with unemployment or protection of environment where Denmark carries out in Prague interesting and usefull projects with respective partners in czech administration during the preparation of Czech republic for membership in the form of so called twining, futher in the area of reforms of structure funds and whole agriculture policy or in making the decision mechanics of Community more effective.

          As to our mutual economic and investment activities, I would like to stress that we see Denmark as our important and perspective partner also with regard to possibilities of involving czech industry in european structures. Czech government  considerabely supports flow of direct foreign investments and creates for foreign investors favourable investment climate. The recent privatisation of big companies from telecommunication branche Czech radiocommunication and Czech Telecom where the main partners are danish companies is the evidence of danish interest in czech economy. It is also evidence of the fact that we garantee foreign investors the same position as  inland companies. With regard to unprecedented flood I mentioned in the beginnig, I venture to call your attention to actual possibility of direct participation of danish companies in reconstruction of areas touched by nature catastrophe in form of standard investment activities or by sharing the know-how.

        In the security area I couldn´t forget that both our countries belong to the most active supporters of further, considerable extension of NATO. The alliance is in the eyes of Czech republic and Denmark guarantor for european security. Countries which will be invited to NATO must of course fulfill the conditions of membership in all respects so that Alliance will be able to fulfill all basic tasks also after extension. Czech republic likewise Denmark consider obviously the baltic countries to belong in this respect to leading candidates. In the case of Slovakia we believe in ability of democratic and integration-oriented political spectrum to be succesfull in parliament election which will take place already in two weeks time and effectively cooperate in pre-election period. Czech republic has the strategical interest in european and integration course of Slovak republic.

           In two months will Czech republic, despite of unfortunate consequencies of the flood, call international attention thanks to november  NATO summit in Prague, analogically as Denmark, one month later thanks to summit of European counsil in Copenhagen. We are honoured by the fact that we will organise meeting of the highest representatives of member countries in NATO and the partner countries of Alliance. The historical impact of this event when the chiefs of states and governments of NATO countries will actually for the first time meet in the country behind the former "iron curtain" besides in the town where in 1991 was definitely dissolved the Warsaw pact, is obvious. Czech republic consider the decision about Prague as thee place for summit as appreciation of gradually and succesfull integration of Czech republic as a new, valuable member of Northatlantic alliance and also as expression of the confidence Prague enjoys as already traditional host of important international events.

Ladies and gentlemen,

        Let me mention shortly also the view of czech government on our common future in enlarged European Community. It is true that the main and logical object of existing interest of my cabinet and czech public is succesfull completion of approach negotiations with European community.  But gradually also in Czech republic grows attention given to question about future of Europe and our country in it, the possible reforms of european construction are discussed.

          Czech republic welcomed especially the possibility of activ involvement in Convent. The representation in Convent we solved according to the similar key as in Denmark: governmental party behold the places of governmental representant and alternate, while alle 4 parliament places were offered to opposition of that time. So now Czech republic, like Denmark, has in Convent representants of various views on European Community and on desired trends in further development of european integration.

           Our opinion is that the negotation in Convent will result in one document which can be sort of proposal of Constitution agreement and where will be, besides the basic document, offered options, most frequently discussed in Convent. After finishing its work there should follow a period of reflexion, during which we could discuss with our public the content of mentioned proposal. We are sure that the next intergovernmental conference which will adopt the final version af Constitution agreement, will occur under the full attendance of new member countries.

          Czech republic, which will be in Convent new, medially big country, relativelly less economically developed and settled in middle Europe region, will support that the future European Community will continue the integration in areas of vital common interest (common foreign and security policy, refugee and immigration policy, solutions of environmental problems, protection of outer borders, persecution of national criminality and the fight against terrorism), that the policies with the feature of mutual solidarity will be preserved (regional and agriculture policy) and equal chances. We support simplification of agreements with respect to existing agreement and political development. The Charter of basic human rights should, in our opinion, become part of Constitution document. We will welcome explicit definition of competencies between Community and national states which must
however include the possibility for flexible reaction on future development as well as more consistent application and control of  subsidiarity principle. In enlarged Community it will be important to preserve the balance between European Community and national states as well as between individual  and european institutions. Therefore we support the preservation of the strong, initiative role of Commission, we welcome already approved reforms of the Council which now the danish chairmanship brings to the life. We follow with a big attention further discussions about the format for chairmanship. The important task for old and new countries will be also to find out the forms for increased support of European parliament legitimacy. The big task will be strengthening  the role of national parliaments as natural resources of legitimacy and democratic control in european policy of individual countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

      Besides complex visions about organisation of European Community, Czech republic must consider already now, which partners we will find in the individual areas inside European Community. Surely there will partially be preserved well tried platform of so called Visegrad Four. In many areas we hope to cooperate with Benelux countries with which we have already established fruitfull contacts and in the future also with nordic countries. Its clear that between nordic countries has Denmark richest experiences from being in European Community. We belive that Denmark will be willing, besides its longterms, priority candidates countries in Baltic sea area to cooperate closely with other new middle Europe members inkluding Czech republic. Czech republic will be, for example, interested in Denmarks experiences with national parliaments involvment in creation and democratic kontrol of european policy and danish knowledges from being active in the frame of European parliament and approaching this european institution to danish public. We are also interested in the means of publics information about european affairs and maintenance of public interest in european problematic. In this regard, the danish public, as presented in research of Eurobarometr, shows the highest adulthood of all member countries.

      We follow with great interest also danish discussions and measures for limitation of illegal immigration and improvment in refugee and intergration policy. We support the effort of European community in deepening european cooperation in area of asylum and imigration and we believe that also here can danish-czech exchange of experiences and cooperation be usefull.

       In  the end let me please express strong belief that the period until the end of this year will be filled with whole range of events which will form the future shape of our continent for several decades ahead. I am very glad that the chairmanship role was devolved to the country which is very interested in succesfull conclusion of approach negotiations. Likewise Czech republic is ready to do its best for that the comming Prague summit will be the contribution for Copenhagen summit.

Thank you for your attention.