AFR Prime Minister’s speech at CEPS

03.07.02

The Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has today given a speech at the Brussels based think tank, Centre for European Policy Studies, CEPS, in Brussels.

In the speech the Prime Minister gave an overview of the priorities of the Danish Presidency’s priorities, focussing on the conclusion of enlargement negotiations. The Prime Minister stressed the following points:

“The fall of the Berlin Wall became the symbol of the end of communism in Europe. Barbed wire, snipers, dogs and tanks should no longer divide Europe. People should no longer be deprived of their most fundamental rights. A corrupt and suppressive political culture should no longer prevail to the detriment of the people

We are at an extremely decisive moment. After ten years of reforms. Ten years of hard work that has produced impressive results. Ten years of expectations that should not be disappointed. We must fulfil the promises we have given each other. We must use the historic chance we have been given and finalise the enlargement negotiations before the end of 2002.”

The full text of the speech can be found on the Danish Presidency’s homepage www.eu2002.dk.