Interview: Ms. Grażyna Staniszewska, Member of European Parliament

Fears about Future of EU

"Many people are afraid that EU will fall apart because of so many new members" - says Ms. Grażyna Staniszewska. -" Every state first of all wants to implement its own interests but not many of them take into account the interests of the European community and development"


By SOFIYA FEDYNA
from Lviv, UKRAINE


One more decision that will change our reality has been recently taken. European parliament agreed that in year 2007 Bulgaria and Romania will enter the European Union. "WAVE" magazine took advantage of meeting that was held in October in Lviv, Ukraine with the members of the European Parliament to talk with the member of that body, Ms. Grażyna Staniszewska. She represents Poland in EU since 2004.

- Yes, I took part in the open elections to the European Parliament being supported by the party "Unia Wolnosci" - [Freedom Union]. They put my candidacy to the elections and I had luck to pass and from the year 2004 to represent Poland in the European parliament. Before that - 12 years I have been a member of the parliament in Poland then 3 years I have been a senator and now I am into European politics - explains Ms. Staniszewska her career in politics. She says there is a big difference between the state parliament and European parliament:

- State parliament has more competence and more power. Because in the EU the first power priority is given to the governments of every state, not to the Parliament. The parliament has fewer functions, but step by step the role of it is being increased. But the worst situations appear when the Parliament wants something, but one of the national governments is against - and the entire question is blocked.

What was the general reaction of the European Parliament members about the EU decision that Romania and Bulgaria will become soon the new members of the EU?

- The parliament voted and voted in favor, but the first reason for this was that there were already many negotiation steps taken, and these countries began their preparation for accession at the same time Poland started. But together with Poland they were unable to enter the EU because not all the necessary changes took place. And at that time they were told that they will definitely enter the EU but a bit later. The second reason for voting "in favor" was the position that we have already promised that Bulgaria and Romania will enter the EU. That is not good to change our position so many times.

But anyway there are fears about future of the EU: many people are afraid that EU will fall apart because of so many new members. Every state first of all wants to implement its own interests. But not many of them take into account the interests of the European community, its development - and of course that makes a lot of problems.

Recently, there were some polls in European countries about what country people would like to see in EU after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and the majority said that they would like to see there Ukraine, but not Turkey.

- So do I think (smiling). Ukrainians are Christian and that is additional common feature that may unite EU and Ukraine. But I would like to look at this question from other point of view. There was created the myth that the entire world is divided into two parts: rich Christians and poor Muslims. And the main politicians of the EU think not about that that together it will be easier, it will not be easier, it will be 30 times harder. But we should say that it's not truth that the world is divided into the poor Muslims and rich Christians. As we are thinking about Muslim Turkey accession to the EU. The main problem is to answer the question: What will be with the EU that has hard times with 10, and now 12 new members, if the Turkey will enter that in general is not the European country?

To become a member of the EU every country should achieve some level, to satisfy some criteria. The situation in Turkey is improving but really slowly. They have adopted the changes to the constitution, they have the necessary laws, but there is no implementation of them in everyday life.

And the last question as "WAVE" is youth web magazine, what is the role of Youth in the transformation of the EU?

- The Youth plays the most important role in the process of the European integration. Now they have a possibility to go to different countries, to make exchanges and what is more important - they want to do that. Youth makes changes, and also young people have to build their future.