Titel: Interview Vice-President of European Parlament Dr. Ingo Friedrich about Enlargement Duration: 6’10’’ Insert: Author: Peter Sauer Camera: Peter Winkler Frank Jessenberger Cut: Gustavo Alvarez Dr. Ingo Friedrich Vice President of European Parlament Content: Text: Dr. Ingo Friedrich, vice president of the European Parliament Interview Sauer/Friedrich: Sauer: The elections in Spain have brought about a change in government - Dr. Friedrich, what do you expect from the European constitution? Do you think that it will come into effect in the foreseeable future? Will an agreement be reached, especially bearing the latest events in Poland in mind? Friedrich: Yes, in the foreseeable future. However, I don’t think that the constitution will come into effect before the European elections on June 13. That is to say that the heads of state and government will not sign before that date. In the two years following it all countries have to ratify the new constitution. That is to say that it will still take a lot of time until the constitution will come into effect. Sauer: At the moment everybody is worried about possible terror attacks. In Germany there are talks about joining secret services of the individual states either partially or totally. What strategies and plans is the European Union pursuing? Friedrich: They are quite similar; however, it will not be possible to join the secret services’ of all countries. At the moment, it will be very important for Europe’s secret services to work together. At the moment there is this attitude of “I know something, you don’t know”, which is of course terrible being given the tense situation we are currently in. We need to strengthen Europol in The Hague, where criminal records are already gathered. And I accept the fact that there is a terror responsible – a former colleague of mine, Mr. de Fries, who will take over the reel, as special representative. The most important thing is that secret services are open for such projects and concentrate on Europol, avoiding, however, to build a second FBI or something similar, which would be exaggerated. This is roughly how Europe should answer to terrorist threats and this will be a challenge for the European Union. Sauer: As a member of the European Parliament, the vice president of the European Parliament is one of those who live and work there, do you think that Brussels and Strasbourg are in real danger? Friedrich: Well, up to now we have had no concrete reasons for believing that. However, we have worked out detailed emergency plans over the last few months, because if you look at it objectively you have to admit that, if global terrorists want to attack Europe directly, one of the buildings in Brussels will be particularly tempting and spectacular. So, we do indeed have to reckon with everything and therefore we had to work out costly and very detailed emergency plans and my heart is bleeding when I think of all the work and money that is obviously necessary to be able to protect civilized people in the 21st century. Sauer: The EU enlargement to the East has been planed and agreed upon and is now imminent. In Germany there is relatively little talk about it. Why is that the case? Friedrich: Because in Germany many people think, what is partially true, that many personal consequences are already reality. Borders are much more open than they used to be at the time of the Iron Curtain. Even today there is constant crossing the border. Nevertheless, I am sorry that people do not discuss it any longer, although, in the medium and long term, the consequences of May 1, will be decisive and intense discussions about what Germany will have to face, specifically in certain aspects would, in my opinion, really be necessary. I have realized that discussions in Austria are much more intense, especially in the border regions and Austria has a very long border to the Czech Republic and Hungary. Well, Germany has to do a lot of catching up in this respect and it really should catch up. Sauer: Let’s talk about the differences: these ten new countries have to be integrated, grow together, differences have to be overcome. At the moment there are differences, that is also the reason for shopping tourism. You talked about the long border of Austria, Germany also has a long border. Many go to the Czech Republic to buy petrol and things at low prices...How long will it take until living conditions will be pretty much the same? Friedrich: It will be different in every sector and place. Take, for example, the Czech Republic, seventy kilometres norths of Prague, where Skoda and VW are now producing together successfully. They have a great turnover, that is to say that living conditions there will adjust much more quickly than in regions south or southeast of Prague, which are not orientated to that extent towards us. I would say that it will take roughly ten to fifteen years until major differences will have been overcome. However, I dare say that wages, salaries and prices will still not be identical. Incidentally, even within Bavaria they differ: Escalope in Munich is still much more expensive than in the Bavarian Forest. Prices have already started adjusting and even in fifteen years prices will still differ by, let’s say 10-20 percent, in many areas. However 10-20 percent is still far away from today’s situation. At the moment we have to multiply figures by 2 or 3. In a nutshell that is the amount of time that it will take for prices to reach an equal level. Sauer: Thank you very much for the interview. .