Brussels, 25/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, said on Wednesday that the report by Emma Nicholson on Romania, which was adopted last week by the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee (see EUROPE of 20 February, p.6), should be taken by Bucarest as a "serious wake-up call", and that the Romanian government was running the risk of "decoupling" its accession procedure from Bulgaria's, if problems related to the observation of the Copenhagen political criteria are not resolved soon.
"The report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee does not call for the countries' accession procedures to be decoupled, but it sends Bucarest a serious warning. If things do not change, decoupling could happen", Mr Cox told the press after a meeting with the Romanian Prime Minister, Adrian Nastase (during a visit to Sofia on Tuesday, the leader of the EP's Liberal Group, Graham Watson, pleaded for decoupling so as not to prejudice Bulgaria's chances of joining the EU in 2007).
Mr Cox insisted that as far as the EP is concerned, 2007 remains the target date for Romania to join, but said that it would be regrettable if the country itself proved incapable of fulfilling the conditions to keep to this date. The Romanian Prime Minister, Mr Nastase was at pains to reassure him that the Romanian government had understood the European Parliament's message, identified the fields in which work remains to be done, and set a "clear and precise agenda" for measures to be taken over the coming months to plug the gaps referred to in the Nicholson report. "We are very determined to lead from the front in accession negotiations and to conclude them in 2004. To do this, we are counting on the support of Pat Cox and the European Parliament", said Mr Nastase. Mr Cox said he was "encouraged" by this agenda, which will, however, have to be verifiable and linked to a precise timetable, he underlined. Mr Cox also indicated that the Romanian Prime Minister had undertaken to send him a "more detailed response" to the criticisms of the Nicholson report in the next few days. The completed dossier will then be sent immediately of the leaders of the political groups of the European Parliament, said Mr Cox.
On Wednesday, Mr Nastase also met President Prodi.
Mr Prodi's appeal to Romania
Speaking to the press, Mr Prodi stressed that the Commission "shares many of the concerns and objections" expressed by the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee in its report on Romania. "I have appealed to Prime Minister Nastase for his government to devote more energy to the problems raised in the report, such as corruption, reform of justice and administration, and the protection of children", said Mr Prodi. There is a heavy workload, but Mr Prodi said that in spite of everything, he was confident that Romania would be able to resolve its problems "with the support and technical help of the Commission", and that the accession timetable (finish negotiations in 2004, accede in 2007) could be respected: "We can do it- that's my message. With determination and political will, the aim can be achieved", he said.
On Bulgaria (which fears that its accession timetable could be in doubt if Romania is not ready), Mr Prodi said: each of the candidate countries will be judged on the basis of its own merit, and there is no question of "mixing up" negotiations, or linking the fate of one to progress made by the other. The annual report to be published by the Commission in September 2004 on Romania's progress will be "decisive" in concluding accession negotiations, said Mr Prodi.
At present, Romania has still to conclude eight negotiation chapters. Mr Prodi thinks that two of them ("freedom to provide services" and "energy": Ed) can be concluded by June, leaving four months (from July to the end of October) to conclude negotiations on the last six chapters, including those with financial implications such as regional aid, agriculture and budget contributions.
Mr Nastase has undertaken to focus the work on the "sensitive issues" raised in the EP's report. To this end, the government has established a priority measures programme to be implemented by the end of June. This priority action programme will be "a test of the credibility" of the Romanian government, the Prime Minister acknowledged. "It is clear that a lot remains to be done in Romania, but we have committed to do it. We can do it", said Mr Nastase. Mr Prodi added: "Time is short".