Message from the Ambassador/Head of the Delegation of the
Message from the Ambassador/Head of the Delegation of the
European Commission, HE Sabato Della Monica
Enlargement will further strengthen EU's relationship with
RI
Today, the European Union celebrates Europe Day. It was on May
9, 1950, in the aftermath of the Second World War, that the
French foreign minister Robert Schumann made history by
announcing a plan to control the forces of war and instead create
a Europe in which countries were economically and politically
linked. Today, on May 9, 2004 -- more than half a century later
-- we celebrate Europe Day for the first time as a European Union
of 25 members.
From the early days of European integration, the European
Union (EU) of today has developed both in scope and size. From
the initial economic cooperation of the six founding members, the
work of the EU now has implications for many aspects of the daily
lives of Europeans.
The cooperation is based on a single market -- with free
movement of goods, people, services and capital -- an economic
and monetary union with a single currency, the euro, as well as
on policy coordination and political and security matters. The
member states of the EU have gradually transferred sovereignty to
the European level, so that democratic decisions on questions of
truly European importance can be made at the European level.
On May 1st, the EU welcomed 10 new member countries from
Central and Eastern Europe. This enlargement is an ambitious
task, but also a unique and historic opportunity to end the
artificial separation that has split the European continent for
more than half a century. Through enlargement, the EU's stability
and prosperity is extended to a wider group of countries, and the
political and economic transition that has taken place in Central
and Eastern Europe since 1989 is consolidated.
Enlargement has also created the biggest economic area on the
globe of over 450 million citizens. A market of this size can be
expected to boost investment and create new jobs and raise the
level of prosperity throughout Europe -- both in the new and old
member countries. And it will generate fresh economic
opportunities for our partners, including Indonesia.
The EU's relationship with Indonesia is longstanding and based
on dialog and cooperation. The EU is the second largest trading
partner for Indonesia, as well as one of the largest investors
here. We are continuously developing closer relations with
Indonesia, and we have a vital interest in the success of
Indonesia's efforts to develop its democracy on the basis of
democratically elected bodies, accountable institutions and an
independent judiciary.
One of the instruments to develop these relations is the
extensive cooperation program that the European Commission is
implementing in Indonesia. The program provides a grant support
of about US$50 million per year and has been developed in
cooperation with the Indonesian authorities, civil society and
other donors.
Our cooperation assistance focuses on institutional capacity-
building, particularly in the areas of accountable governance,
the rule of law, and sound economic policies -- as well as the
sustainable management of Indonesia's rich natural resources,
notably its heritage of tropical forests and rich bio-diversity.
In addition to the assistance provided through government
channels, the European Commission offers opportunities for the
direct grant funding of civil society organizations, for example
within the areas of economic cooperation, democracy and human
rights. The responsibility for the implementation of these
programs now lies with the Delegation of the European Commission
in Jakarta, and we believe that these programs will prove to be
flexible and efficient tools to support various sectors of mutual
and strategic interest to Indonesia and the EU.
Indonesia is an important strategic partner for the European
Union in Southeast Asia, and in the world. And with the
enlargement of the European Union, our relationship with
Indonesia will grow in strength, depth and maturity.