Celebrating Europe Day

Speech to London Europe Society by the Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane MP. May 8th, 2003.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Tomorrow is Europe Day. Fifty-three years ago, Schuman, Adenauer and de Gasperi made the decisive move to end European divisions, by creating a united Europe, built on peace, equality and solidarity.

This year is particularly significant. Thirty years ago, Sir Edward Heath took Britain into the European Community. And with the signing of the Accession Treaty by EU leaders in Athens last month, it also marks a major turning point in the history of the EU.

30 YEARS - MILESTONES

During our membership of the EU, we have seen prosperity, security and stability spread across our continent. And despite media myths about straight bananas and banning the British banger, we have gained tremendously from EU membership.

Britons have the right to live, work, study and retire in any EU country without a visa. The cost of flights to Europe has halved in the last 10 years. The cost of phone calls has halved as a result of open competition. Discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability and religion are outlawed. We have cleaner beaches and air and drinking water. Over half our trade is with other EU countries. 3 million jobs depend upon that trade.

By co-operating with other EU countries, we are better able to take action against terrorism and international crime. And these benefits are about to increase.

WHAT NEXT?

We are about to witness Europe's widest historical transformation since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, as ten countries prepare to join the EU next year. This will be one of the greatest achievements of the current European generation and finally end the bitter divisions of the Cold War.

Britain has always backed EU enlargement. In 1998, the British Presidency of the EU launched negotiations with the first countries wanting to join. Tony Blair was the first European leader to call for the 2004 target for new countries to join and helped secure EU colleagues' agreement to this. All of Britain's main political parties are united on the importance of EU enlargement. I look forward to the smooth transition of the Accession Bill, recently introduced to Parliament, as a clear demonstration of our united support for our new EU neighbours.

To me, the unification of Europe is particularly poignant. Born to a Polish father and an Irish mother, I felt at first hand the divisions that kept the two halves of Europe apart. Twenty years ago, I was arrested and briefly imprisoned by the Communist secret police in Poland. It would have been difficult for me to believe back then, that we would be where we are today.

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the new European countries have undergone a process of radical modernisation. The road has not been an easy one, but the determination and commitment to put an end to Cold War divisions has turned an ambitious vision into an imminent reality.

But again, though the political importance of enlargement is clear, the benefits to Britain must not be overlooked. There will be even more opportunities to travel, study, work and live abroad. It will further improve our ability to tackle pollution, poverty, terrorism and international crime. It will mean controlling migration, as quality of life increases and the incentives to migrate decreases.

Enlargement will create the largest single market in the world, with nearly 450 million consumers. It will boost the UK economy by £1.75 billion and create 300,000 new jobs across the current EU. Enlargement will benefit UK financial firms which have the expertise to take advantage of new business opportunities.

The UK has always been a strong supporter of creating a single EU market in financial services, to cut firms' cost of capital and increase consumer choice of more competitive services. After EU enlargement, integration with a larger single market will mean lowering the cost of capital for investment across our continent.

CONCLUSION

The European Union is unique. Its diversity and difference is something to celebrate. It makes for a more democratic and open decision-making process, which reflects the needs of the many different citizens it represents. As the EU becomes bigger, it will be even more important to value this diversity and more crucial to respond to the social, economic and political concerns of its people. If we are to deliver lasting success, we need to work together with all our European partners to build a modern and relevant union, which will benefit future generations.