23 June 2005
Europe is in a profound debate on its future, the Prime Minister told MEPs today as he set out the UK’s position on the future of the European Union.
Mr Blair said that the UK would focus on the Budget deal, obligations to countries like Turkey and Croatia that hope to join the EU, and attempt to resolve issues like the Services Directive and Working Time Directive.
He added that Britain would conduct a debate about the future of Europe in an open, inclusive way, ‘giving our own views strongly but fully respectful of the views of others,’ in the course of its six-month presidency.
He added that current difficulties were not a crisis of political institutions, but a crisis of political leadership, and urged change. He said:
"It is time to give ourselves a reality check.
"The people are blowing the trumpets round the city walls. Are we listening? Have we the political will to go out and meet them so that they regard our leadership as part of the solution not the problem?"
Concluding his speech the Prime Minister said:
"In my time as Prime Minister, I have found that the hard part is not taking the decision, it is spotting when it has to be taken.
"It is understanding the difference between the challenges that have to be managed and those that have to be confronted and overcome. This is such a moment of decision for Europe."
Extra information
- Read the Prime Minister’s address to the EU Parliament in our speeches section
- Read the speech in French
- Read the speech in German
Watch the Prime Minister deliver his speech
- PM speech to EU Parliament - 23 June 2005 - Java Player
- PM speech to EU Parliament - 23 June 2005 - Realplayer
- PM speech to EU Parliament - 23 June 2005 - Windows Media Player
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