African Unification Front
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18 March 2004, Brussels
The European Parliament sends its most sincere congratulations to the Pan-African Parliament on the occasion of its inaugural session in Addis Ababa
By Pat Cox, President of the EU Parliament
This will be remembered as a milestone date in the history of African democracy. The African continent as a whole, and the more than 800 million people living in this continent, now have their own parliament. As the African Union evolves and acquires increased powers, so does the need for democratic accountability and legitimacy.
The African Union has set out to bring together the peoples and nations of Africa. Thus can the skills and resources, in particular the human resources, of your continent be harnessed for the benefit of all its inhabitants. By working together, by pooling assets, by cooperation, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. We wish the African Union every success. At the same time, history teaches us that legislation and administrative measures can never be truly effective unless they reflect the majority will of the people. This is where the Pan-African Parliament has a vital role to play.
Without a mandate from the people, legislative decisions lack democratic legitimacy. The Pan-African Parliament is the means whereby your Union can represent the concerns and the aspirations of the people of Africa, all the people of Africa, in the villages, in the forests, in the deserts, on the islands and, in ever growing numbers, in the cities. We support you fully in the great work that lies ahead of you.
Like the Pan-African Parliament, the European Parliament started as a consultative assembly composed of members from the Parliaments of its Member States. Yet over the last half century the European Parliament has developed from a consultative body into a full parliament with legislative, budgetary and supervisory powers. We derive our legitimacy from direct universal suffrage. Our members are elected by the people of Europe every five years. As an equal partner with the Council of Ministers of the European Union we pass the majority of European laws, as well as the Union's annual budget.
I am sure that direct elections to the Pan-African Parliament, the next step in your evolution, will bring you even nearer to the people whom you represent, and will open the door to stronger powers, including legislative and budgetary powers.
It is inevitable, and natural, that a parliament has to struggle to increase its powers. There will be difficult moments ahead for you. I have, however, no doubt that if you are resolute and determined you will succeed in achieving your democratic objectives
The idea of a European Union grew out of the ravages of the Second World War, which destroyed much of Europe in the first half of the 1940s. By working together former enemies experienced the benefits of peace and cooperation. The desolation and deprivation of the post-war period gave way to the prosperity of today's Europe. Conflict prevention was, and still is, one of the cornerstones of the European Union.
I know that this is also true for the African Union. Here the role of the Pan-African Parliament will be particularly significant. The essence of parliament is the discussion of differences, in a spirit of compromise and tolerance. These are the elements that render war impossible. I believe that, in addition to your legislative functions, you will have a vital political part to play in maintaining peace throughout Africa. No task is more noble than this. We all look forward to the day, in the not too distant future, when the Pan-African Parliament will be recognised as the forum in which differences between states and peoples are aired, and compromises are reached, without recourse to arms. The benefits to the people of Africa will be inestimable.
It is with real pleasure that I welcome the birth of a new multi-national parliament. May I wish you every success in the years ahead and assure you of the deep friendship and enthusiastic support the European Parliament.
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