Strasbourg, 13/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - During a debate in plenary on Wednesday on the Union's enlargement, EU Council President Josep Piqué considered that the European Commission's proposals on the budgetary chapter, agricultural policy and structural policy were a "solid and correct basis" for negotiations, with "reasonable and balanced" content. The debate within the Council has highlighted "different sensitivities", but I am convinced that we shall reach common positions acceptable to the candidate countries, he went on. He then reaffirmed the stance taken by the Spanish Presidency by which "at this crucial point in time, we must avoid" attempts "at beginning the reform on common policies interfering with accession negotiations". We are not against engaging in these reforms "at the appropriate time", but they must unfold in a "separate channel" to the accession process, the Spanish Foreign Minister made a point of stressing. In addition, he recalled that the Presidency intended, in close co-ordination with the candidates, embarking on the work of the Committee responsible for drawing up the accession treaties, and open all chapters in suspense with Bulgaria and, if possible, Romania. As for Cyprus, he repeated that its reunification was "not a condition" for EU membership, but a solution in Cyprus, "would obviously enormously facilitate" membership. Finally, he stressed that the Presidency would provide "momentum to Turkey's accession strategy" towards "a new stage" of the process of rapprochement between Turkey and the EU.
The European Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen warned against any "stalling tactic", that would risk having "uncontrollable and dangerous" consequences, while noting that the situation "is looking good". Verheugen confirmed that in the coming weeks, the Commission would present draft common positions on budgetary issues, agricultural policy, structural policy and the institutions, repeating that there would be "no second class members" and that the "global budgetary ceilings" set at the Berlin Summit would not be exceeded. End-October, under the Danish Presidency, the Commission will present a new "progress report" and make recommendations on candidates with which negotiations could be formally concluded by the Copenhagen Summit, he added. Furthermore, Mr. Vergheugen raised some problems of a more political nature: (a) Benes decrees. For the European Commission they are "obsolete", they do not constitute a legal problem, but a "political and moral" one, Verheugen made a point of stressing, noting that "accession negotiations must not be overburdened with subjects of the past". Meanwhile, he said, the Commission and others have been trying to find a solution to this problem for years, "in many, many confidential talks", and the Commission "is again checking this legislation". (b) the future of Kaliningrad. There will be "no special negotiations with Russia", at the same time as accession negotiations, on what will obviously become a Russian enclave in the EU, Verheugen assured his audience. What is at stake, is "much more" than solutions over transit and visas, which are issues we shall settle in the framework of Schengen, the Commissioner pointed out, stressing: it is a question of ensuring that Kaliningrad takes part in the "economic dynamics" developing in the region., to avoid these dynamics leading to social tensions. (c) Cyprus. Even if there is still no "breakthrough" in the Clerides/Denktash talks, Greek Cypriot officials have assured me that they are sticking to the goal of reaching the "major outlines of a political agreement" by June, and I am encouraging them to move down that path, said Verheugen.
Agricultural policy, Kaliningrad, as well as Ukraine (there should be no question of building a new iron curtain east of Poland), these are some topics dear to the leader of the EPP/ED Group, Hans-Gert Poettering. For the Socialist Group, Martin Schulz placed special emphasis on the work the Convention on the future of Europe having to improve decision-making procedures after enlargement. Jens-Peter Bonde, leader of the Europe of Democracies and Diversities, in turn pleaded for the candidate countries to be represented in the Convention's Praesidium. We have many important decisions to take to complete the internal market before enlargement, the leader of the Liberal Group, Graham Watson recalled, especially placing emphasis on current Member states not having to drain Union action by criticising decisions that give them the impression of being victims (he mentioned Italian Finance Minister Tremonti and, without citing him, alluded to the criticisms of Chancellor Schroeder regarding the European Commission). Elisabeth Schroedter, for the Greens, and Pernille Frahm, for the United Left/Nordic Green Left, want things said as they are: we cannot pretend that enlargement will cost nothing; if it is to be a real success, a genuine "peace plan", the richer countries (like mine, said Denmark's Ms. Frahm) must be prepared to pay.
At the end of the debate, Commissioner Verheugen pleaded in favour of the equality of candidates within the Convention on the future of Europe: it would be a mistake to believe that they are not ready and want to save our "precious crockery before the arrival of children who dirty everything", he exclaimed.