Brussels, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The final Commission monitoring reports published on Wednesday confirm that the ten accession countries have all agreed on the "particular efforts" for finishing their preparations for access and that they should be ready to join the EU in suitable conditions. Fundamental questions are those of knowing whether EU institutions, common policies and the internal market could function suitably after accession and whether some pending problems would be resolved before 1 May 2004. To these two questions, Commissioner Günter Verheugen informed the press after presentation of the reports to the European Parliament, meeting in "mini-Ministerial session" that the answer was clearly "yes". The reports notably conclude that in light of the monitoring over recent months, "we can conclude that overall, accession countries should be ready for accession in most areas, even if they still, in certain case, have to proceed to some adjustments". "This enlargement is as well prepared as possible and the work accomplished over the last six years will allow the enlarged EU to correctly function and in respect of the Community acquis, even with 25 members", underlined the Commissioner. "We can now be sure that the new members do not bring problems in the Union but rather performance of new opportunities and more enthusiasm".
The reports focus on the progress carried out in economic reforms and the state of implementation of the Acquis. Mr Verheugen told the Parliament that the general result was clear: considerable progress being achieved both in economic and political reforms and the application of the Community acquis. He explained that over the next few months they would have to work "energetically" to shore up existing shortfalls and make additional efforts. The Commission identified a total of 39 delays or shortcomings that it considers as "particularly worrying" (see EUROPE yesterday pp 9/10. On all these points the Commission will send a warning letter and organise the necessary technical consultations to help the countries concerned in an effort to rectify the situation.
Mr Verheugen warned the governments that, if they do not take immediate and decisive measures, the countries in question will probably not be able to fulfil the obligations linked to accession in these specific fields, and their citizens, like their economic players, will not be able to fully benefit from the advantages of accession. This is all the more true as the 39 truly problematical points concern for the most part "essential" areas for the acceding countries themselves (such as the management of Structural Funds or direct aid to farmers), which means that the countries lagging behind could penalise themselves. Mr Verheugen told the European Parliament that he was launching an appeal to the governments and to the parliaments of the acceding countries so that they make the additional effort necessary as it is also a matter of their ensuring that their farmers or their populations as a whole may benefit from European aid. Factories will be closed and people will lose their jobs, or not, depending on progress made, he said. Speaking before the press, he played down the number of 39 "serious concerns". This is a tiny number he said (only 3%) compared to the mass of European legislation to be transposed and applied by the acceding countries. The number is quite low, he felt, as he expected more problems than that. Speaking of the economic criteria for accession, the situation is on the whole satisfactory, he insisted, but all ten countries should continue with their reforms if they really wish to be able to fully benefit from the advantages of the enlarged internal market. He said that continuing the reform programme will increase the ability of acceding countries to fully enjoy the economic possibilities opened to them by their integration into the internal market. Mr Verheugen also insisted on the fight against corruption which must remain or become the greatest priority in all the countries, in their own interest.
The Commission will continue to observe how acceding countries resolve their last outstanding problems over coming months but it does not intend to present another monitoring report before 1 May 2004. However, although it appears that some effort will not have been achieved as it should have been before accession, the Commission is resolved to take the measures necessary to oblige the new members to conform to the EU body of law, Mr Verheugen warned. In this respect, the Commission has a large range of possibilities for intervention, ranging from infringement procedures against the States concerned to safeguard measures even though it is still too early to speak of sanctions at this stage, six months from enlargement. Whatever, declared Mr Verheugen, "we do not agree that the good functioning of the EU should be seriously affected or that serious risks should be taken to the detriment of consumer health".