Again, isolationism is no longer an option. In Europe, we have already gone a long way towards this new approach. Monetary policy currently completes this process. Monetary policy in the euro area is denationalised. In Europe we will go further along this path as we advance towards EU enlargement. IV In June, the European summit in Gothenburg proclaimed the accession process “irreversible”.
It is envisaged that negotiations with the first group of countries will be complete as early as the end of next year. We can truly say that we are on the eve of the eastward enlargement of the EU. Fifty years after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the European Union is more attractive than ever. It is a success.