Brussels, 13/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Unice, the association representing European employers, has reiterated its full support for enlargement of the EU. The accession of future new members "will bring benefits to both EU Member States and the applicant countries, will make the European economy more competitive at world level and favour political and economic stability in the applicant countries and all of Europe", asserts Unice in a report presented this week. "The single market will find itself considerably enlarged", and necessary structural reforms will be undertaken in Member States and in the candidate countries, note European employers. Unice is not opposed in principle to the possibility of granting applicants transitional periods for taking up and implementing the acquis in certain areas, but these must be limited in scope and time and matched with strict conditions for full application of the acquis.
Unice also insists upon the importance to be attached to the quality of the negotiations and the speed with which they are concluded. "The enlargement process should not be slowed, but the quality and results of the negotiations must be the ultimate decisive factors for fixing the timetable for accession", reads Unice's report. According to employers, pre-accession assistance (ISPA, SAPARD, PHARE) should be focused on the initiatives needed to ensure compliance with and implementation of the acquis and to help applicants face up to the pressures of the single market. "To this effect, particular attention, even support, must be granted to organisations representing business in the applicant countries, to enable it to play its full role in this process." Unice, as an intersectoral organisation representing European business, is prepared to share its experience.
"Unice will continue to follow the enlargement process closely and support it actively. It wishes to boost its cooperation with the European institutions, civil servants and business circles in the applicant countries on this issue, which is of vital importance for Europe and its enterprises", concludes the report.