Interview with the Mayors of Rostock and
Sundsvall
What are your expectations for your own
city in connection with enlargement?
 There
will be more chances for development. Especially our harbour
will gain importance. We expect an increase of goods transfer
across the Baltic Sea. This will give an impulse for new
settlements of enterprises in the harbour area. Also branches
like ferry traffic, tourism, IT and other services will
increase their business volume. But now we will have to
compete more with other cities. The cooperation with cities
from the BSR, especially within UBC seems to be helpful.
And, we will focus, more than before, on joint EU projects.
Do you think the identity of your citizens
will be more European?
One should mention that some citizens feel
certain fear and distance concerning the EU enlargement.
That's why we have to promote it publicly in a political
campaign. On 14 April 2004 a Promotion Bus of the Information
Office for Germany of the European Parliament will stop
in Rostock in order to inform about ,,Europe - a good Choice".
In fact, with the European Elections in June the role of
an united Europe and the political authority of the European
delegates will attract more public attention than ever.
In what direction do you think EU will
develop after the enlargement?
Europe is becoming larger and its centre
moves Eastward. Exactly this fact brings enormous chances
for Rostock, due to its location in the North-East of Germany.
Of course, we will take care that Europe will be forever
democratic and economically liberal. But I don't worry,
because this is the concensus among all EU countries.
Arno Poker
Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Rostock, Germany
Finally a big step for Europe - new countries
joining -closes the gap that for so long kept our continent
divided.
 For
our region it also means four new countries that can now
fully contribute to a prosperous and peaceful future. This
is after all great challenge for Europe. Will integration
run as smoothly as we hope for and will the European in
us be stronger than the national? Sweden has advocated the
enlargement issue as strongly as anyone else. To us it has
been important and as new members ourselves we have perhaps
not quite understood as yet all the implications and complexity
of the tasks ahead. Our population itself feels rather distant
and confused about the meaning of membership. There are
political parties in this country, united and divided in
accepting that membership is a part of our own future and
that pulling out of this cooperation would not benefit anyone.
Sweden differs from most other member states
in that we have experienced neither dictatorship nor war.
These factors are still important. Let's hope that the newly
independent status of the new countries will not be an obstacle
to finding real European solutions on a citizen's perspective
rather than the prevailing international cooperation. The
tests will soon be presented when the constitution comes
to the negotiating table.
To us in Sweden it should bring a boost for
our economy to see more prosperous neighbours. Until then
we realize that many investments need to come about in communication,
infrastructure and environment. The richer countries need
to contribute to this at the same time as local initiative
need to continue to develop. A better economic stability
in our region should benefit all. The relatively high level
of education in the new countries should be a positive factor.
My hopes are that the new countries integration does not
result in nationalistic demands but instead on a will to
advance to a common European identity based on human values
and tolerance for differences. This can be achieved and
the region where we live and work has everything to win
by it!
Joao Pinheiro
City Council of Sundsvall, Sweden
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