Strasbourg, 05/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - Parliament had no problem voting on Wednesday on the largely unamended Resolution on enlargement and the thirteen reports on candidate countries, thereby giving a broadly positive verdict on the progress made in the negotiations, punctuated with specific criticisms of a few countries.
The MEPs began by voting through the Regulation on enlargement put forward by Elmar Brok (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.8), after adding a dozen or so amendments, particularly a criticism of the European Commission's 25 July 2001 Communication on the impact of enlargement on the regions bordering candidate countries. According to the EP, the Communication only contained a sketchy programme and in the context of the particularly acute problems of adaptation faced by these regions, MEPs "demanded" extra support measures which would give a strong incentive to extending cross-border cooperation. The plenary session rejected an amendment tabled by the ELDR group, proposing to "regret" that a move was being made towards long transition periods for the free circulation of workers and calling on Member States to choose shorter periods. The EP called for Hungary and the Czech Republic to have 22 MEPs and Malta to have 6 (like Luxembourg). The Resolution calls for replacement solutions to be drawn up (in the accession treaties, for example) after the Irish 'No' vote on the Nice Treaty. In terms of the documents adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee (see EUROPE on 16/17 July, pp 16/17), the EP:
Rapporteurs stress effort made by candidate states
Enlargement must be a joint project for the countries of the Union and the candidate countries: during the debate, this statement of fact was made unanimously by rapporteurs on the different candidate states, beginning with German Green member, Ms Schroedter, rapporteur on Latvia. She drew attention, however, to the negative effects that enlargement could have for the Fifteen (mainly relocation and social dumping risks). The rapporteur on Lithuania, Greek Socialist Mr Soulidakis, insisted on the need to be more demanding (which is not the same thing as interference, he stressed), concerning human rights in candidate countries. Poland is beginning to raise questions about the cost of membership, noted Mr Gavronski (Forza Italia), while saying he was convinced that this country could become a member of the Union "early in 2004). German Christian Democrat Mr Schroeder, rapporteur on the Czech Republic had more questions about the situation within the Union, a Union where the desire for change seems constant but where the decisions, by force of circumstance, are often slow in coming. The negotiations with Slovakia are making very satisfactory progress, said Dutch Socialist Mr Wiersma, who specified that, where difficulties have appeared (presumed irregularities in the use of Community funds), an indepth inquiry is in progress. The setting in place of local elected authorities is of vital importance for the adaptation of the Slovakian administration, in the interests of the greatest possible transparency, he said. The balance sheet is also very positive for Hungary. Portuguese national Mr Queiro (Union for a Europe of Nations) recalls that 22 negotiation chapters out of 30 have now been closed and that the economic situation is good (even though inflation needs to be controlled). Issues still to be resolved include that of the Roma minority. The last elections in Bulgaria, said British Conservative Mr Van Orden, in fact represented a vote of mistrust towards the previous government and the affirmation of the will for change on the part of a majority of the Bulgarian people. The aim of closing negotiations in 2004 to become a member of the Union in 2007 is, according to Mr Van Orden, ambitious but "not unrealistic". Baroness Nicholson, British Liberal Democrat, stressed the enormous effort made by Romania to adjust after years of dictatorship, and urged for abolition of visa restrictions. She added that, last week during the placing of the first stone of the German Embassy in Bucharest, the German Ambassador told her that the Embassy would not have a "visa" section. The essential question remaining to be resolved with Slovenia is that of the restitution of goods within the time set, recalled Mr Volcic (Democratici di sinistra, Italy), who insisted on the transparency of the privatisation process. In Lubliana, added Mr Volcic, they had been made to understand that, if the accession date were to be delayed, the government would find it difficult to explain this to the population. Malta was able to catch up twenty-two months of interruption and may present a very good result at every level, said Mrs Stenzel (EPP, Austria), noting, however, that, from a political point of view, polarisation between government and opposition has become greater. As far as Cyprus is concerned, the result is "contrasted", said Luxembourg Socialist Mr Poos (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9): on one side, there is the excellent performance concerning acquis, and on the other, the political problem raised by the unilateral withdrawal of Mr Denktash from talks under the aegis of the UN. The United Nations has proposed a federal system which has shown its worth elsewhere, said Mr Poos, considering that the two communities wish, in their majority, to be part of the Union and that those who have chosen immobilism as the only strategy must respect the will of the majority. Although Kofi Annan's efforts were sabotaged, the Union can but honour the commitment made in Helsinki in December 1999, affirming that a political solution is not a precondition to Cyprus' accession to the Union, concluded Mr Poos.
The social consequences of enlargement in the candidate countries are a primary concern for members of the European Parliament. Ms Smet (EPP, Belgium) fears a legal void if social security systems existing in Eastern European countries are abolished before new systems are able to function. Mr Jonckheer (Ecologist, Belgium) was shocked by the refusal of the foreign affairs committee to accept the amendments of the social affairs committee to Mr Brok's resolution. Danish Socialist Ms Thorning-Schmidt calls for the establishment of a true social partnership in candidate countries. Austrian Social Democrat Mr Swoboda also urges for a greater effort to be made towards respecting minority rights. Women's rights also deserve more attention, according to two members of the relevant committee, Ms Sörensen (Greens, Belgium) and Ms Kratsa (EPP-ED, Greece). Others express concern about the situation of border regions: from the economic point of view (with Mr Rack, Austrian member of the EPP Group, calling for proposals from the European Commission) and from the point of view of security (with Austrian Social Democrat Berger insisting for border security to be seen as a task for the Union as a whole and not just the countries directly concerned). Mr Katiforis (Greek Socialist) was one of several Greek parliamentarians who expressed concern about Cyprus: he said its accession cannot be delayed.
On behalf of the Belgian Presidency, Ms Neyts admitted that, in the final phase of talks, the nerves are fraying on all sides. She also recognised the driving role of the European Parliament in the enlargement process and the importance of adjusting social structures in candidate countries if one wants the process to be a success. In Gent and Laeken, enlargement will be "well and truly on the agenda", the Council President confirmed, not without recalling the Union's other fundamental task - that of reform of the institutions.