Strasbourg, 22/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 22 November, the European Parliament called for the EU to include more social considerations and greater input from civil society in its accession criteria. In a report by Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D, Greece) on the EU's enlargement policies and criteria and strategic interests in this area MEPs would like the EU to put more emphasis on the social dimension, “in an effort to encourage a positive social transformation in future member states of the European Union, while remaining attentive to the defence of social justice”.
They would like the Commission to step up its monitoring of progress made in the accession process and for reference points and assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries to be included. They are also calling for simplified and more fast-track procedures regarding the Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument (PAI) and for the administrative capacity of beneficiary countries to be increased, “to ensure a high degree of participation in European programmes, as well as a greater absorption capacity”. Parliament is calling on the Commission to not immediately reduce in real terms the overall amount to each beneficiary from enlargement policy and for it not to prevent beneficiaries from receiving, “sufficient and fair access” to funding due to restricted EU resources, particularly in the area of institution building. MEPs would like all accession criteria to be translated into, “clear, specific and measurable” targets in the PIA, in order to clearly demonstrate the link between EU funded policies and the progress accomplished in respecting accession criteria.
While confirming its commitment to enlargement, parliament underlines the EU's ability to integrate new countries as a key element to consider and is requesting MEPs to keep the momentum going in the enlargement process. MEPs consider that during the next overall treaty review, Parliament should launch a debate about the introduction of a new category of associate EU member for countries that do not want to or cannot join the Union.
The report also underlines the importance of “strict respect” of the Copenhagen criteria and the long-term acquis, the fight against corruption and organised crime, good neighbourhood relations, human rights, the EUROPE 2020 objectives and enhancing support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. (CG/transl.fl)