In 2003, speakers were Mr. Mikuláš Dzurinda, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey, Swiss Foreign Minister, Dr. Franz Fischler, EU-Commissioner for agriculture, and the Hon. Jeremy Soames, grandson of Winston Churchill. In a very emotive and poignant way Jeremy Soames talked about his grandfather, namely his last years at his home Chartwell in the Kentish hills south of Westerham. Mrs. Calmy-Rey explained the Swiss Federal Council’s policy toward the EU. Underlining the visible limitations of the current bilateral approach, Mrs. Calmy-Rey did not hide her sympathies for EU membership, however stopping short of a full-scale endorsement (for obvious political reasons). However, she announced the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to fully evaluate Swiss EU membership in a report next year.
The Slovak Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for his country joining the EU next May. He explained that full EU membership must entail full responsibilities but also full and equal rights, including a seat at the EU commission. Thus Mr.Dzurinda implicitly rejected the current proposal of the EU draft Constitution which would reduce the number of commissioners to 15 just as the EU expands its membership to 25. Main subject of Mr. Fischler’s speech was the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun. Excerpt from Commissioner Fischler’s speech: "Whatever the explanation you give however, one thing is for sure: everyone who went to Cancun hoping for a deal has lost out. We have all missed a prime opportunity to right the wrongs in the world trading system and, in particular, the chance to make it more open and inclusive for all. It is those countries that went there with the greatest margin to gain, however, that have really come away the greatest losers of all."
