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Prime Minister Kok speaks finally out on Europe, but not on finalities
Amsterdam, june 7 2001. Students are these days a popular audience to European politicians for going public with their views on the future of the European Union.
The Dutch prime minister Wim Kok is no exception.
On Wednesday june 6, 2001 he addressed students of the university of Leiden with a speech titled;
"The Europe of the future"
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The emphasis of the speech is on the enlargement of the Union with the eastern neighbours.
According to Kok the enlargement is "the most important strategic political decision of the Union in its existence."
His thinking on institutional matters is driven by practicality. Prime Minister Kok did not mention the F- word once. It is the policy that matters, the structures will follow. "Structures must support policy." No debates on finalities with Wim Kok. His speech is more a framework of the policy agenda in the near future. Cautious in the direction of a European constitution in due time.
He likes the Commission to be strengthened, so it is able to play a more important role in the integration process. The Nation States remain the pillars of the Union also in the future.
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