Ten countries joined the European Union in May 2004 and I am happy that the Union has taken a step in the right direction towards a more peaceful Europe. Generations to come will reap the fruits of this decision as they grow up together and live in one united Europe.

On 1st May 2004 the Single Market increased in size by 75 million consumers and when Bulgaria and Romania join, another 100 million people will become citizens of the European Union. I see this expansion as a chance for the agricultural and food industries in particular, and one which they should seize with both hands.

I believe that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the key to the ten new members and the new accession states attaining the standards of the European Single Market. For the Balkan States aspiring to join the EU, the CAP is essential support en route. Both the new and future member states have made tremendous efforts to modernize their administrations and to improve food processing and marketing structures in the course of preparing to join.

It is the CAP in particular which forms the financial and technical basis for these structural adjustments with the help of specific programmes such as those to promote the development of rural areas. SAPARD has already been adopted in Bulgaria and Romania, running until 2007 to bring them up to EU standards, and will be implemented in South Eastern European countries like Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the near future. Rural areas in particular will profit greatly from this.

The agricultural and food industries have great economic potential in these accession states. Austria has traditionally enjoyed very good relationships with these countries and should make use of this favourable position as they continue to evolve. Indeed, the Austrian Agricultural Cluster (AAC) has an important role to play in this process.

Many years of experience in running SAPARD projects, getting involved on-the-spot and exploiting synergies have turned the AAC into a competent and attractive partner as well as a successful example for comprehensive cooperation in all fields of agriculture and food production.

I would like to wish the Austrian Agricultural Cluster continued success in its many activities.