Brussels, 13/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Belgian Presidency of the EU has just informed Coreper of its work programme (which will be presented formally to the foreign ministers of the Fifteen at the General Affairs Council, see other article) for accession negotiations over the next six months. Here are the main elements:
- Three negotiating sessions will be held at deputy-level (ambassadors for Member States, chief negotiators for the candidates): 27 July, 25/26 October and 27/28 November;
- The ministerial session (foreign ministers) is scheduled for 11/12 December;
- In all, at least 11 new chapter should be opened with three of the candidate countries of the Helsinki group: 7 with Bulgaria (free movement of persons, taxation, social policy, energy, regional policy, environment, budget), 3 with Romania (taxation, social policy and consumer protection) and 1 with Malta (agriculture). The other candidates have already opened negotiations on all the chapters. The Presidency emphasises that more chapters could be opened if progress made by the three countries permit;
- With all twelve candidate countries, the Belgian Presidency intends respecting the road map that provides for definitive EU common positions (and if possible, to progress and conclude) on at least the following 9 chapters: competition, agriculture (veterinary and plant health aspects), tax policy, justice and home affairs, transport, customs union, energy, fisheries and financial control. "The Belgian Presidency intends maintaining a sustained rate of negotiations (…). It will implement the road map with the same determination as the previous presidencies, so as to achieve decisive progress", said a Presidency spokesperson;
- European Council of Laeken will assess progress achieved in December relying on the analysis the Commission will present in the Strategic Document, the regular reports (planned for November) and on the updating of the Accession Partnerships with all candidates. In the light of this assessment, the Laeken Summit will provide all the necessary impetus to bring the enlargement process to a successful conclusion", the Presidency states;
- As Prime minister Guy Verhofstadt already announced at his press conference with President Prodi (allusion to the "quality" of enlargement), the Belgian Presidency will place special emphasis on the ability of candidates to actually implement the acquis that they have already transposed or that they still have to transpose before accession. "Transposition of the acquis communautaires, application and implementation of this acquis by candidates are fundamental. The Presidency will grant it all the necessary attention in order to ensure regular monitoring", said the Presidency's spokesperson.
