Foreign policy chief says enlargement will benefit world

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Exterior European Council 2. Close-up EU flag 3. Medium shot of Javier Solana walking in the corridor 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy: "Well, the significance is historical, it's the reunification of Europe. In a sense that we could not have thought a few years ago. In terms of countries coming, in terms of countries that have made a tremendous effort to adapt themselves to the requirements of the European Union. But those efforts will no doubt be very important for them, very important for us and they will be rewarded. This is how I see it. I don't like to call it enlargement, I prefer to call it the reunification of Europe." 5. Mid shot of Solana 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy: "I don't think it will be easier, but I don't think either that it will be more difficult. I think that the type of work that we have had over the last period of time, since these countries are members or will be members of the European Union who are candidates, in foreign policy they have subscribed all the common positions that the 15 members have taken. So I don't think it will be a very significant change in the positions of the European Union. It may be more difficult to debate, because its not the same to debate among 15 and 25. But those are more questions of procedure, rather than substance. On substance, I think there will not be great difficulty." 7. Cutaway interview 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy: "It is true that some of the new members they have had a concern about their own security that NATO provides them. For them to be part of the NATO structure is very important; but this is a global umbrella. Everyday life is much more related to business, which are dealt with in the European Union, economy, trade, borders etc. The basic elements of their everyday life will be related to the European Union. So as things evolve, their concerns about security will diminish. And their concerns about their everyday life, economics, etc. will increase and therefore their relations with the European Union will be much more important." 9. Mid shot of Solana 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Javier Solana, EU HR for Common Foreign and Security Policy: "It's very difficult to make a prediction about how the world is going to be in 10 years and how the European Union is going to be in 10 years. One bet, I can do that. The European Union will be stronger, the European Union will be solid, it will be an important actor on the economic arena and the citizens of the European Union could be proud of what they are doing for themselves, which is more important for what they do for others. The world will be a better place with a solid European Union." 11. EU Foreign Policy chief, Javier Solana leaving STORYLINE The world will be a better place as a result of the enlargement of the European Union, according to the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana. In an interview with APTN to mark enlargement day on May 1, Solana described the event as "historical". Ten new countries, some of them former communist countries in Eastern Europe, will join the European Union on May 1. Solana said he preferred to call the event "reunification of Europe" rather than enlargement, adding that the new countries made a "tremendous effort" to adapt to the requirements of the EU. Solana also said he didn't expect a major shift on the EU position in terms on foreign policy as a result of the ingress of 10 new countries. He considered that the discussion amongst 25 might be more difficult but more in terms of procedure that in questions of substance. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/d18cb23b56e3aebe91829a57139c8ed3 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork