EU enlargement means Europe is leaving behind the dreadful conflicts of thepast to create a new future. Can we not do the same on this island, asksJohn Hume
This week, a historic event took place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In preparation for the enlargement of the EU, the European Parliament met in joint session with the representatives of the parliaments of the future member-states of the EU. We are on the verge of a new and united Europe.
Fifteen years ago, such an event would have been inconceivable. The idea that elected representatives from Warsaw Pact countries and constituent republics of the former USSR would be participating in the European Parliament would have been incredible. Even five years ago, it would have seemed unlikely that we would have made so much progress in uniting Europe.
A tremendous amount has been achieved by the EU in assisting the political and economic development of the new democracies of eastern and central Europe. The efforts of the candidate countries to transform themselves are impressive. After the next elections in 2004, elected representatives from those countries will be sitting in the European Parliament. Their citizens will be equal citizens of the European Union.
The idea of equality is crucial to the future of the new Europe. The idea of uniting our continent is not new. What is new are the principles of equality and mutual respect, and the methods of European integration embodied in the EU. As a result, the EU has been a resounding success in uniting Europe. Unity by conquest and colonisation was a futile and catastrophic endeavour, as the millennia of war and destruction show. But, through co-operation and consent, we are building a new and united Europe. Where emperors and fuhrers have failed, the peoples of Europe are succeeding.
Unity by consent is replacing the old failed approach of unity through supremacy. We are moving beyond balance-of-power politics to a system based on the pursuit of common interests. Sharing our sovereignties is proving the best way of maximising our influence over the development of the world. This is an intriguing, and defining, moment in European history. We now have the chance to finally lay the ghosts of the Versailles Treaty to rest. A Europe recognising fully the principles of self-determination and democracy will surely make this century one without war or conflict on our continent.
In some respects, the present day is very similar to the period after the first World War and the collapse of the central and eastern European empires. Most of today's future EU members first emerged from the Versailles period and have only recently regained their independence after half a century of oppression.
But at Versailles the victors dictated an unsustainable peace. The losers were mistreated.
While the principle of self-determination was first recognised in international law, it happened in a partial and undemocratic fashion. The peoples of Europe were not consulted. Indeed, the only successor states to maintain both independence and democracy were those that grasped it for themselves with the consent of their people - Finland and Ireland.
Today, Europe is older and wiser. The post-Versailles states have recovered independence and democracy. This is crucial for the future of the EU. Democratic institutions are the first requirement for membership. The EU can only work with the consent of its peoples.
It is therefore highly advisable that the candidate states secure the consent of their people,through referenda on membership, once the final conditions are agreed. Versailles created a two-tier Europe with second-class nations. Today we are treating all the peoples of Europe as equals, and ensuring that all Europeans are citizens, not subjects.
The economic advantages of enlargement for our island have been well aired during the recent referendum on the Nice Treaty. The political advantages have been relatively neglected. I believe Ireland can only gain from the new political realities of the EU after enlargement. We are building a Europe in which the small and medium-sized states will have an even greater role to play. The increase in the number of small and medium-sized states can only help to ensure that the EU remains united, diverse and based on mutual respect. It will help prevent the emergence of balance-of-power politics, towards which larger states have an inclination.
Ireland shares comparable historical experiences with many of the candidate states. Like Ireland, most of them rose out of the ruins or decline of empire. Like them, Ireland's international policy has been shaped by a commitment to an international system built on law and agreement, which is obviously to be greatly preferred to power politics. Ireland and the candidate countries are therefore natural allies. Ireland's experience as a small state operating very successfully in the EU will no doubt provide valuable guidance and links for our new colleagues in the EU.
The EU will become even more culturally and linguistically diverse. That will help to enhance respect for cultural diversity and respect for minorities. On our island, with its diversity of traditions, that is a crucial issue. We should never forget that all cultures and traditions are minorities somewhere. For example, one of Europe's major languages, Russian, will soon be a minority language within the borders of the EU.
Clearly, the EU will have to continue to develop its role as a defender of minorities. There are, of course, some lessons for us from this process of European integration. At a time when the rest of Europe is putting its historic divisions behind it, it is important that we do the same on this island. The full implementation of the Good Friday agreement is therefore both necessary and urgent.
Most important of all, we must take note that Europe is moving on. It is essential that we on this island should be at the forefront of that process of change if we are to make a major contribution to the new Europe. If the Europe of today can leave behind the dreadful conflicts of the past and its peoples can live together not only in peace and harmon,but in mutual respect, can we on this island not do exactly the same thing - create an Ireland whose unity is based not only on agreement, but on respect for diversity?
John Hume is SDLP MEP for Northern Ireland