Strasbourg, 14/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we mentioned, speaking before the European Parliament Tuesday afternoon, President Romano Prodi made a point of personally welcoming progress made by candidate countries on the path to European Union membership, as described in the reports that the Commissioner for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen presented to Parliament (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9). With enlargement, the Union is preparing to assume "continental responsibilities that demand further reflection on our means, our policies and on the objectives of our action", said the President of the European Commission, adding: "Our commitment and our courage must equal the commitment and courage with which candidate countries are preparing their entry into the Union". Progress made demonstrates that the historic event that is enlargement is genuinely "within reach, on condition that we keep up this sustained rhythm", Prodi considered, noting that "in exactly one year, we shall evaluate the ability of each candidate country to assume the rights and obligations stemming from membership of the Union" (Mr. Verheugen remarked in his address that next year the Commission would have to provide its "definitive opinions" on the progress of candidate countries, and that then, there should no longer be "shortcomings"). We shall then have had to have concluded negotiations with the countries respecting the criteria, or at least be close to concluding negotiations, and these countries will therefore be able to join the EU "before the June 2004 elections", noted Romano Prodi, placing emphasis, as did Commissioner Verheugen, on the need for these candidate countries to provide themselves with the administrative capabilities necessary to actually implement EU policies (and the German Green, Elisabeth Schroedter especially welcomed that).
Prodi also stressed the need to enlarge the "area of prosperity and stability that we need" beyond the EU and its future Member States, thanks to the "neighbourhood policy" which is "one of the strategic objectives of this Commission", thanks to free-trade agreements or agreements like the European Economic Area, so as to enhance "economic inter-penetration".
In exchanges with Prodi and Verheugen, the President of the EPP-ED Group, Hans-Gert Poettering said that his Group's Bureau had observed, at a meeting in Hungary last week, the concerns of its interlocutors over Poland's possible delay which could also lead to a delay for other candidates. "There is no need to place Poland in another category", it has invested itself in this "race to accession with an extraordinary capacity", replied Romano Prodi, remarking: "when we go to Poland, they tell us that we prefer small countries, when we go to small countries, they say we prefer Poland…".
Several MEPs questioned Verheugen on developments in Turkey, and notably the threat of the "annexation" of Northern Cyprus, beginning with the Austrian Social-Democrat Hannes Swoboda. If we do not find a political settlement for Cyprus by the end of accession negotiations, and if Turkey reacts in that way to such a situation, we shall find ourselves in the "most difficult crisis ever between the EU and Turkey", and I do not see how "we could emerge from that crisis", replied Mr. Verheugen. And, in answer to the President of the Liberal Group, Pat Cox who asked him if there had been positive signs on the part of Ankara, he cited the Accession Partnership (which "is working in all its facets") and progress regarding the acquis, but repeated that he would have expected "a great deal more" from Turkey regarding a settlement for Cyprus, and that he was disappointed both regarding human rights and over Turkey's conduct on the EU's security and defence policy. It is not "appropriate" for a country that wants to join the EU to impede "essential" progress in European integration, exclaimed Verheugen. I have the impression that we are moving forward "almost without safety net", remarked Guido Podesta, member of Forza Italia, regarding Cyprus. What have you to say about the situation of the Kurds in Turkey, asked the German MEP of Turkish origin, Feleknas Uca, member of the PDS. Today, we have not presented a report on Turkey, as the Accession Partnership with the country only began last Spring, answered Mr. Verheugen (who, in his address, had said that the Commission was not in a position to suggest that the work of the "screening" of progress made by the country should begin).
At a press conference in Strasbourg on Tuesday evening, Mr. Verheugen stipulated the following: (a) adaptation of the administrative structures of candidate countries. No candidate country has yet fulfilled this criterion, Verheugen stressed: if, end-2002, we find ourselves in the "sad" situation where some country or another cannot demonstrate that they can implement Community law, the Commission will not be able to come down in favour of its membership. But the action plan provided for in the Commission's Strategic Document aims precisely to help the candidates, in the coming year, to make progress enabling them to implement Community law. This programme will only be able to be implemented when we know which countries will be ready to join in 2004; (b) financial framework. Accession of ten candidates by 2004 will be possible without exceeding the limits of Agenda 2000, Verheugen assured; (c) enlargement and institutional reform. Even though reforms are necessary, enlargement must not be dependent on decisions in this field: that would lead to "unacceptable" delays; (d) Poland. It is still in the leading group: nineteen negotiating chapters have been closed, but in fact we should speak of "nineteen plus three", as three other chapters are "ripe" and only require a political decision. In any case, the fear that the whole negotiating process would be delayed to take account of the situation in Poland is totally unwarranted; (e) Bulgaria and Romania. Verheugen stressed the remarkable progress made lately by these two countries, and their irreplaceable role for stability in the Balkans; (f) Turkey. It has made progress, but the Commission will have to monitor and assess the amendments to the Turkish Constitution and their actual implementation, said Mr. Verheugen, adding that the Union was ready to help Turkey, notably technically, in the framework of existing institutions, like the Association Council sub-committees; (g) Cyprus. Mr. Verheugen did not conceal his disappointment: on the Turkish side, "there is no movement worthy of its name", and the position of the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash remains unchanged. One may doubt the legitimacy of that position, said Verheugen, as the majority of Turkish Cypriots would like Cyprus to join the Union and are aware of the fact that this means a settlement to the conflict between the two communities.