26/1: Speech by Pat Cox to Congress for Victims of Terrorism, Madrid: minority rights, right to dissent by peaceful and non-violent means is part of democracy, European Parliament (EP) condemns all acts of terror, mutual arrest warrant and extradition
27/1 : Meeting with José Maria Aznar, PM of Spain: Constitutional Treaty, enlargement – Poland and strategic margin for manoeuvre, French public opinion and French political class not favourable on enlargement. Aznar says that it is a serious mistake that the European Council as 2nd Chamber has more proportionality than 1st as previous system worked so far. Cox thanks Spanish government for support on Statute
28/1: Pat Cox meets with Ana Palacio, Spanish Foreign Minister: Failure in Council on [Members’] Statute is another symbol of Europe being unable to do European business – 2003 saw EU’s Iraq Crisis and non-respect for Stability Pact and breakdown of Summit on IGC, which leads to increase in Euroscepticism. Tasks in 2004 very difficult. Palacio says the debate must remain on sober lines and avoid French/German dominance. Discuss issue of double majority. Need to decide what Europe wants for Europe before European elections; Meeting with José Luis Zapatero, leader of Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE): ETA weakened. PSOE will win elections and lead to change in Spain’s policy towards EU and US
10/02: Pat Cox on budget
2/3: Meeting with Beate Winkler, Director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia on anti-Semitism in Europe
4/3: meeting with Vaclav Klaus, President of Czech Republic who says that Turkey is closer to Afghanistan than to Europe and that the EU was much harder on his country about reforms 5 years previously
9/3: Cox interviews with ITV: migrants, Iraqi crisis, stability pact, lack of Statute means that EP remains just an Assembly not a truly European Institution, new President of the Commission
11/3: Condemnation by Cox of terrorist attack in Madrid
17/3: Pat Cox’s visit to Los Angeles: EU-US friction
18/3: Pat Cox’s visit to Denver and meeting with Governor Bill Owens: no safe haven for terrorists in the EU

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