喇牛煙将多大是 高级商务英语阅读 particular religion does not fit in with Europe's shared values.Our opposition should be directed not against religions but against people and groups misusing their religion to get their way by force. Islam is not the problem.Muslims,Christians and people of other beliefs can live together perfectly well.The problem is not religion but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance and to repress women." Balkenende recognised,nonetheless,that the decision concerning Turkey does "greatly concern and trouble many people".He said the Presidency wants to make possible "a well-founded decision which gains all-round endorsement and will also hold firm in future." And on the international dimension of the EU.Balkenende said:"As a result of the most recent enlargement,the EU has gained not only new members,but also new neighbours.We feel closely associated with them and want to strengthen our ties with them.The same applies to countries in the 'wider Middle East'and the Mediterranean.The Netherlands Presidency is keen to work towards increasing stability in that region and encouraging reforms in the political,economic and sociocultural arenas.The Barcelona process must be strengthened and intensified." The Council President also looked more widely at the challenges facing the new enlarged Europe, identifying what he described as a paradox:"On the one hand,we have seen the dream of the founders of the European Union fulfilled.The countries of Europe have dared to throw in their lot together,and have thereby brought about reconciliation,stability and prosperity.Whichever way you look at it,that is a huge achievement.On the other hand,however,it is becoming increasingly clear that such cooperation and such a feeling of solidarity are no longer obvious to many people. We seem to be finding it more and more difficult to identify our common ground,as if we have lost sight of what connects us at the deepest level.This is something which cannot be ignored, especially now that the EU is working intensively on its enlargement.Before an edifice can be extended,it must be ensured that its foundations remain solid,otherwise the entire structure and therefore all its inhabitants are at risk." For this reason,the Netherlands is organising a debate"on the importance of European values in 2004.The fact that such values are enshrined in the Constitution is not enough.They must also 第2页共9页高级商务英语阅读 particular religion does not fit in with Europe's shared values. Our opposition should be directed not against religions but against people and groups misusing their religion to get their way by force. Islam is not the problem. Muslims, Christians and people of other beliefs can live together perfectly well. The problem is not religion but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance and to repress women.” Balkenende recognised, nonetheless, that the decision concerning Turkey does “greatly concern and trouble many people”. He said the Presidency wants to make possible “a well-founded decision which gains all-round endorsement and will also hold firm in future.” And on the international dimension of the EU, Balkenende said: “As a result of the most recent enlargement, the EU has gained not only new members, but also new neighbours. We feel closely associated with them and want to strengthen our ties with them. The same applies to countries in the ‘wider Middle East’ and the Mediterranean. The Netherlands Presidency is keen to work towards increasing stability in that region and encouraging reforms in the political, economic and sociocultural arenas. The Barcelona process must be strengthened and intensified.” The Council President also looked more widely at the challenges facing the new enlarged Europe, identifying what he described as a paradox: “On the one hand, we have seen the dream of the founders of the European Union fulfilled. The countries of Europe have dared to throw in their lot together, and have thereby brought about reconciliation, stability and prosperity. Whichever way you look at it, that is a huge achievement. On the other hand, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that such cooperation and such a feeling of solidarity are no longer obvious to many people. We seem to be finding it more and more difficult to identify our common ground, as if we have lost sight of what connects us at the deepest level. This is something which cannot be ignored, especially now that the EU is working intensively on its enlargement. Before an edifice can be extended, it must be ensured that its foundations remain solid, otherwise the entire structure and therefore all its inhabitants are at risk.” For this reason, the Netherlands is organising a debate “on the importance of European values in 2004. The fact that such values are enshrined in the Constitution is not enough. They must also 第 2 页 共 9 页