The following is an edited version of the final declaration issued by EU heads of state and government at the Laeken summit:
For centuries, peoples and states have taken up arms and waged war to win control of the European continent.
The debilitating effects of two bloody wars and the weakening of Europe's position in the world brought a growing realisation that only peace and concerted action could make the dream of a strong, unified Europe come true.
In order to banish once and for all the demons of the past, a start was made with a coal and steel community. Other economic activities, such as agriculture, were subsequently added in. A genuine single market was eventually established for goods, persons, services and capital, and a single currency was added in 1999.
On January 1st, 2002, the euro is to become a day-to-day reality for 300 million European citizens.
The European Union has thus gradually come into being. In the beginning, it was more of an economic and technical collaboration. Twenty years ago, with the first direct elections to the European Parliament, the Community's democratic legitimacy, which until then had lain with the Council alone, was considerably strengthened.
Over the last 10 years, construction of a political union has begun and co-operation been established on social policy, employment, asylum, immigration, police, justice, foreign policy and a security and defence policy.
The European Union is a success story. For over half a century now, Europe has been at peace. Along with north America and Japan, the Union forms one of the three most prosperous parts of the world. As a result of mutual solidarity and fair distribution of the benefits of economic development, moreover, the standard of living in the Union's weaker regions has increased enormously and they have made good much of the disadvantage they were at.
Fifty years on, however, the Union stands at a crossroads, a defining moment in its existence. The unification of Europe is near. The Union is about to expand to bring in more than 10 new member-states, predominantly central and eastern European, thereby finally closing one of the darkest chapters in European history: the second World War and the artificial division of Europe.
At the same time, the Union faces twin challenges, one within and the other beyond its borders.
Within the Union, the European institutions must be brought closer to its citizens. Citizens undoubtedly support the Union's broad aims, but they do not always see a connection between those goals and the Union's everyday action. They want the European institutions to be less unwieldy and rigid and more efficient and open.
Many also feel that the Union should involve itself more with their particular concerns, instead of intervening, in every detail, in matters by their nature better left to member-states' and regions' elected representatives.
This is even perceived by some as a threat to their identity. More importantly, however, they feel that deals are all too often cut out of their sight.
Beyond its borders, in turn, the Union is confronted with a fast-changing, globalised world. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, it looked briefly as though we would for a long while be living in a stable world order, free from conflict, founded upon human rights. Just a few years later, however, there is no such certainty. September 11th has brought a rude awakening. The opposing forces have not gone away: religious fanaticism, ethnic nationalism, racism and terrorism are on the increase, and regional conflicts, poverty and underdevelopment provide a seedbed for them.
What is Europe's role in this changed world? Does Europe not, now that is finally unified, have a leading role to play in a new world order, that of a power able both to play a stabilising role worldwide and to point the way ahead for many countries and peoples?
Europe as the continent of humane values, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the French Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall; the continent of liberty, solidarity and, above all, diversity, meaning respect for others' languages, cultures and traditions.
The European Union's one boundary is democracy and human rights. The Union is open only to countries which uphold free elections, respect for minorities and respect for the rule of law.
Now that the Cold War is over and we are living in a globalised, yet also highly-fragmented world, Europe needs to shoulder its responsibilities in the governance of globalisation. The role it has to play is that of a power resolutely doing battle against all violence, all terror and all fanaticism, but which also does not turn a blind eye to the world's injustices.
In short, a power wanting to change the course of world affairs in such a way as to benefit not just the rich countries but also the poorest. A power seeking to set globalisation within a moral framework, to anchor it in solidarity and sustainable development.
The image of a democratic and globally-engaged Europe admirably matches citizens' wishes. There have been frequent public calls for a greater EU role in justice and security, action against cross-border crime, control of migration flows and reception of asylum-seekers and refugees.
Citizens also want results in the fields of employment and combating poverty and social exclusion, as well as in the field of economic and social cohesion.
They want a common approach on environmental pollution, climate change and food safety, in short, all transnational issues which they instinctively sense can only be tackled by working together. Just as they also want to see Europe more involved in foreign affairs.
At the same time, citizens also feel that the Union is behaving too bureaucratically in numerous other areas. In co-ordinating the economic and fiscal environment, the basic issue should continue to be proper operation of the internal market and the single currency, without this jeopardising member-states' individuality.
Citizens are calling for a clear, effective, democratically-controlled Community approach, developing a Europe which points the way ahead for the world. An approach that provides concrete results in terms of more jobs, better quality of life, less crime, decent education and better healthcare. This will require Europe to undergo renewal and reform.
The full text of the declaration is available on The Irish Times website at www.ireland.com
Main Points
Issues facing Europe to be discussed at Convention chaired by Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
EU member-states to support international stabilisation force in Afghanistan.
Common definition of terrorist offences; list of terrorist organisations; European arrest warrant.
Common policy on asylum and immigration as soon as possible.
10 candidate countries expected to be ready to join by 2004: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and Slovenia
Palestinian Authority named as Israel's legitimate negotiating partner.