EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering, has commemorated the fifth anniversary of the expansion that joined 10 new countries to the EU. Pöttering stressed during the opening plenary session in Strasbourg, the importance of this historic moment as the "culmination of the reunification of Europe" and stressed that enlargement has strengthened the stability, democracy and the role of the EU in the world. The president also defended the role of the Treaty of Lisbon to meet the challenges of the future.

On May 1, 2004, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia joined the European Union.
 
Since then, according Pöttering, "Europe has gained in strength, diversity and cultural richness". EU enlargement was the "culmination of the reunification of our continent," based on respect for values such as democracy and freedom. The president said that "five years after that historic moment, we see that enlargement has been a great success" because it has strengthened stability and democracy, while the economy has experienced an "impressive growth".
 
He also made clear that the enlargement process has enhanced the role of the EU around the world. "In the last five years we have learned to better integrate and cooperate with the new Member States," Pottering said.
 
The president took the opportunity to emphasize the role of the Treaty of Lisbon, which contains central reforms "for the EU to adapt to expansion and to meet current challenges effectively. In this regard, he noted that "we have to rely on obtaining a positive result next Wednesday in the Czech Senate."

Status of the journalist Reza Saberi

At the opening plenary, President Pöttering also used to discuss the case of Iranian-American journalist, Reza Saberi, who has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran for alleged espionage case.
 
The president urged the Iranian authorities to release Saberi "to immediately and unconditionally" and recalled the damage they are suffering human rights in Iran. He also expressed solidarity with the journalist's family and reiterated the stated commitment of the European Parliament with unconditional respect for human rights and democracy. "

Solidarity with the Dutch Royal House

Finally, Pöttering sent his condolences to the Queen of the Netherlands and all Dutch people after the attack on the Queen's Day by a driver who tried to charge your car at the bus carrying the Royal Family .