Speech Barroso bij 25-jarig EU-lidmaatschap Griekenland (en)

SPEECH/06/329

President of the European Commission

Dialogue, debate, democracy: Greece's gift, Europe's challenge

25th anniversary of Greece's EU membership

Greece, 28 May 2006

Your Excellency,

Prime Minister,

Distinguished guests,

Kalispera, [Good Evening]

Iné megáli mou timí, pou vrískome mazí sas sé aftín tín simantikí epétio. [It is a great honour for me to find myself (be) with you on this significant anniversary.]

We are gathered here today to celebrate the twenty five years of Greece's membership of the European Union. As the EU's tenth member, Greece has, I believe, gained much from Europe. But, above all, Europe has gained much from Greece.

Twenty five years is a long time. Europe has changed. Greece has changed. Today, Greece has a solid democracy that fully enjoys the privileges of EU partnership. It is a member of the eurozone, a member of the Schengen area and a respected neighbour and influential actor in the region and on the international scene.

In fact, Greece has given a new dimension to the European Union, opening it farther south and east And - along with Portugal and Spain's accession five years later - Greece has, centuries later, again contributed to the spread of democracy. In fact, we can say that these three countries of Southern Europe - after consolidating their democratic regimes following long dictatorships and while integrating fully into the European Union - have been, through their example, influential in the global movement towards democracy, which then extended to Latin America and later contaminated the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

In the last twenty five years, Greece has been the vanguard of the European Union in this region of Europe. We are grateful for what it has done to promote peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Western Balkans. Indeed, Greece is playing a positive and constructive role as a great example and inspiration for other countries in this part of Europe.

And, what has Europe brought Greece? Economic growth and development, and, of course, greater prosperity. For example, infrastructure has changed the profile of Greece over the last twenty five years, greatly facilitated the life of Greek citizens and improved the competitiveness of your economy. Motorways, airports, ports, metro, tram and many other big and small projects have been co-funded by the European Union as a concrete expression of solidarity.

But, of course, the European Union is not just about funds. First and foremost it is about uniting for peace, freedom and democracy. And this is exactly what the EU and Greece have benefited from in its twenty five years of membership.

Greek citizens fully recognise these achievements. Recently, a special Eurobarometer was undertaken, assessing twenty five years of Greek membership in the European Union. The results were clear. A full 81 per cent of Greek citizens feel their country has benefited from membership. Greece's participation in the European Union is a success story and we are all proud of it.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a privilege to be amongst you today to celebrate a great and historic moment for Greece and it is a special honour to do so at this equally great and historic location.

Words cannot easily describe how it feels to deliver a speech in exactly the same place where Themistocles, Pericles and Demosthenes, used to speak. Thank you for offering me this opportunity.

Twenty five centuries ago, on this very spot, Pnyka, the free citizens of Athens were debating their ideas through dialogue - and thus democracy was born.

Europe is, first and foremost, a creation of culture and we should never forget that what unites us is, above all, the commonality of values - values such as, freedom, democracy and justice that have their roots in Ancient Greece.

Today, we have the European Union dealing with more aspects of our citizens' daily lives than ever before; the EU provides the foundations for lasting peace, prosperity and stability. The European Union has set ambitious goals and targets. The single market, the creation of the euro, the completion of the biggest enlargement ever are, certainly, great achievements.

Europe is indeed a success story.

Of course, two negative referenda on the new Treaty have put Europe in a challenging position, but at the same time this has sparked an open and frank debate with citizens on what kind of Europe they want for the future. As the ancient Greeks said: "Udén kakón amigés kalú" (No evil comes without a blessing!).

This is indeed an opportunity to re-engage European citizens and re-energise the pursuit of our European project. In fact, some of our citizens are not sceptical because they want less Europe, but because they want a better Europe. A Europe with the power to combat unemployment. A Europe with more solidarity and more security. A Europe that creates growth and jobs. A Europe with a common foreign policy. A stronger Europe, defending our common values in a globalised world.

Our common journey towards a united Europe continues; as it must.

And, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great and exciting journey. Let me turn to one of the great 20th Century poets, your countryman, Konstantinos Kaváfis. Please forgive my translation. I had to do it from my Portuguese version, translated in turn by another great poet, the Portuguese, Jorge de Sena.

Here are some lines that mean a lot me:

If one day you leave for Ithaca,

Then hope that the journey will be a long one,

full of adventure, full of wisdom.

.....

Always have Ithaca on your mind.

You are destined to reach there.

.....

Ithaca gave you a beautiful journey.

Without her you would not have begun the voyage,

More than this she cannot give.

If you think her poor, then Ithaca did not deceive you.

You have become wise, someone with experience,

and now you know the meaning of Ithaca.

Ladies and gentlemen,

A united Europe is our Ithaca and by enjoying the journey towards that destination, we are also building our common project. And for being a great companion on this exciting journey, I say to Greece:

"Sas efharistó" (Thank you)