Országgyűlési napló - 2008. évi őszi ülésszak
2008. szeptember 15 (155. szám) - José Manuel Barroso, az Európai Bizottság elnökének és kíséretének köszöntése - José Manuel Barroso, az Európai Bizottság elnökének beszéde (angol nyelven) - JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO, az Európai Bizottság elnöke
59 The political dialogue with the parliaments was launched in September 2006 and since then national parliaments have sent 263 opinions to the Commission. Our analysis of the results of this cooperation is very positive, even if we can increase it. National parliaments have found the new mechanism useful mainly in three ways: it provides an opportunity for them to take a more proactive attitude about European issues; it reinforces their right to information; and it allows them to better scrutinize t heir own governments. The interest of national parliaments in using this new mechanism is also proof of their commitment to the European Union. This relationship with national parliaments has indeed been a priority for the Commission. Besides the dialogue mechanism, I have also had the privilege of visiting national parliaments in 21 Member States. And, taken together, the Members of the Commission have met national parliaments and Committees over 400 times. No other Commission in the history of European in tegration has addressed national parliaments so many times. In the future, national parliaments will continue to have more scrutiny powers over European matters and will have more opportunity to have their voice heard at the EU level, most obviously throug h new mechanisms to ensure respect for subsidiarity. This is in the Lisbon Treaty and I welcome this reinforcement of power of parliaments in our project. However, at the same time, I wish to emphasise that the principle of subsidiarity should increase the efficiency of the European Union by helping to establish more efficient institutional partnerships. It should not serve as an excuse for institutional blockage or for any kind of regression in European integration. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me now turn to the positive effects of European reunification through the last enlargement. I would summarize the basic principles of European enlargement in just three words: peace, freedom and solidarity. With tanks rolling into cities in this vast continent of Europe once again, and people running away from military clashes, it is more appropriate than ever to remind ourselves of what the European project means. Above all, it means peace. For the first time in its history, after the last two enlargements in 2004 and 2 007, Europe was peacefully reunified. 'European peace' does not mean merely the absence of war, but a new way of ordering and organising politics in Europe: a political order where institutions, rules and negotiations replace violence and wars. It is much better to have lively political debates in Parliament than to go on to violence. It is a democratic way of conducting politics. But enlargement was also about freedom – political freedom. Just over half a century ago, the people of Hungary expressed, in th e streets of Budapest, their love of freedom, their demand for democracy, and their wish to return to Europe. In the short term, their fight for liberty and justice was tragically crushed by Soviet military power. But that spirit could never be destroyed, and that spirit lived on. In 1989, Hungary finally became part of the free world, part of the European Union, and part of a voluntary community of free countries. The European Union is the natural destination for the countries of central Europe, who fought so hard and so long for their freedom. The relationship between freedom, democracy and European integration is also part – allow me again this personal remark – it is also part of my political and personnel experience. I grew up in a country on the other side of Europe, in southwest Europe, where we had at the time no political freedom. I still remember before I was 18 years old that I could not read all the books I wanted. I could not have the political life my generation wanted. For the Portuguese peopl e, Europe, the European Community was also the place we sought as the guarantor of our freedom and democracy. For our generation in many countries also in southwest Europe, Europe means democracy and
