The economic crisis must not be allowed to undermine success of enlargement

4.22.00pm GMT Wed 4th Mar 2009

The successes and failures of post Cold War reunification in Europe was the theme of a cross-party seminar organised by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Set against the background of growing tensions between old and new Europe over the management of the economic crisis, MEPs from across the political spectrum analysed what both sides have done to ensure that enlargement is mutually beneficial.

"European integration does not simply occur at the moment of accession. It is an ongoing and complex process shaped by the shared values of our citizens, said ALDE Leader Graham Watson.

"Over the past 5 years we have overcome many hurdles to silence the prophets of doom who warned against enlargement. Prejudice, suspicion, indifference are ebbing away. The current economic crisis is the gravest test European solidarity has faced so far. Whether we emerge stronger or revert to the sectarianism of the past will depend on how far apart we allow populist pressures to pull us.

"Recession has made clear that there are now three layers of economic security in Europe: at the centre, EU member states that have adopted the Euro, then member states outside the eurozone, and finally non-member states.

"European integration is a two-way process that benefits us all. The time has come for those outside the euro - either by choice or by circumstance - to make strides towards membership and those who have rejected the EU to question whether they can really afford to stand alone in a fast-changing world."

Note to editors:

Mr. Watson was a campaigner for UK membership of the EC in the 1970s and has favoured the reunification of Western and Eastern Europe since he was a student in Leipzig in the former German Democratic Republic in 1977 -78.