“After 11 September the government of the world is more difficult. Guaranteeing security, prosperity and peace is an enterprise that no State, no institution, no people, however, large, powerful and respected, can realize by itself alone“. That’s why it’s important for Europe to “reaffirm the sense of her own unity so as to respond to the requests of citizens for “peace, security and social justice”. The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, was addressing the College of Europe in Bruges. As regards the enlargement of the Union, Prodi declared himself satisfied with the progress of the negotiations and affirmed that the first bloc of (10) countries could join the EU before the European elections in 2004. The President of the EU Executive also recalled the benefits of economic and monetary Union (EMU), and in particular the importance of the introduction of the Euro “for the development, integration and stability of the European economy”. Regarding the international influence of Europe, Prodi expressed the hope that the central role of the EU in the context of North-South relations would be reinforced, and invited the future Spanish presidency to revive the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
