Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kim Traavik

Europe beyond the EU

European Economic Summit, Warsaw, 29 April 2004

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The enlargement of the EU and the concurrent enlargement of NATO are historic steps towards a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Europe. A bright new day is dawning on our continent. The vision of a Europe whole and free is finally becoming reality.

The ten new members of the EU and the seven new members of NATO have worked hard for this. Societies have been fundamentally transformed. Painful, but necessary reforms have been carried out. We salute the achievements of Poland and the other new EU members.

We salute furthermore the unswerving commitment of the EU to the expansion of the European zone of stability and prosperity. You personally, Commissioner Verheugen, have played a crucial role in this regard. Yet the Union is not and should not be resting on its laurels.

The European Commission’s recommendation that Croatia be welcomed as a candidate country is a watershed event, in the history of Croatia but equally in the history of the Western Balkans. It sends a powerful message to the other countries of the region that eventually EU membership will be within reach for them as well.

The time needed by individual aspirants to meet the Copenhagen criteria will of course vary. But the near-universal attraction that the EU continues to hold underlines once more the unique position of the Union as a driving force for political and economic reforms across the continent.

Hence, we welcome the commitment of the Union to bring also the countries on its new external borders closer to it. New dividing lines must not be allowed to replace those done away. We share the objectives of the new neighbourhood policy and stand ready to contribute actively to it, just as we have supported enlargement and actively contributed to it.

We will be making substantial contributions to the bridging of economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. To that end, two new EEA financial instruments will become operative on May 1. Norway’s share of the funding of the two instruments will be around 225 million Euro annually for the next five years.

With the other EFTA/EEA countries, the new member states and the European Commission, we are exploring how the EEA financial mechanisms can be drawn upon to finance cross-border projects in support of and complementary to the European Neighbourhood programme.

As a country that has twice held referenda turning down EU membership Norway surely qualifies as a part of "Europe beyond the EU". Yet it would be mistaken to consider us reluctant Europeans. Although not a member, we are a close partner of the Union.

Through the European Economic Area Agreement, Norway participates in the EU’s internal market. Through the Schengen co-operation and the Dublin Convention, Norway is part of the external border regime of the EU. We co-operate closely with the EU in the areas of the CFSP/ESDP as well a justice and home affairs.

The experience we have gained in the context of the EEA Agreement and the Schengen cooperation may be of some interest as the EU ponders it future relations with new neighbours and the continuing development of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Needless to say, we stand ready to share that experience.

The European Neighbourhood Programmes will be an important instrument to promote democratic reform and economic development, and hence stability, in our part of the world. In addition we must continue to give impetus to regional and bilateral cooperation. We welcome the expansion of EU-Russia cooperation and the extension of the PCA agreement.

In the north we have several regional frameworks at our disposal.The Barents Euro-Arctic co-operation between the five Nordic countries, Russia and the European Commission, offers Russia a platform for a new type of practical and result-oriented co-operation with its neighbours. The same is true with regard to the Baltic sea cooperation.

The EU’s Northern Dimension remains an important instrument to ensure a continuing focus on the challenges we are facing in the north of Europe, including nuclear safety and other environmental challenges in Northwestern Russia.

Following enlargement, we may wish to have a fresh look at how we go about regional cooperation in the north of Europe, including the future direction of the Northern Dimension. But we must not continue to focus on the specific challenges and opportunities of the North.

But European security and stability depends also on close co-operation with our partners in Central Asia and Caucasus. Ensuring the continuation of democratic reform is important.

These regions are vitally important frontlines in the fight against international organized crime and particularly trafficking in drugs and human beings. The international community needs to step up its efforts to promote security sector reform in the broadest sense. Police training and regional police cooperation are vital ingredients.

We would welcome the inclusion of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Neighbourhood Policy. Georgia’s "rose revolution" should serve as an inspiration to other countries in the region. President Saakashvili and his supporters need and deserve our support. Hence, we have stepped up our support to Georgia,, including in the area of security sector reform.

Norway is a reliable partner for the EU. We have a long history of supporting reforms and promoting regional stability. We have gained much experience in regional cross-border co-operation in the North. In our view this experience can be put to good use in support of the evolution and implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Thank you for your attention.