Brussels, 08/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - In parallel to the progress reports on Turkey, Croatia and Western Balkan countries (see following pages), the European Commission proposed on Wednesday, elements, that according to Commissioner Olli Rehn, could constitute the basis for a “new consensus” between Member States on the future enlargement strategy at the next European Council (14/15 December). More than in the past, the capacity of the EU for integrating new members is placed at the centre of this strategy (the Commission prefers speaking about “integration capacity” rather than “capacity of absorption”). Addressing the press Mr Rehn explained, “The EU must also ensure that it can maintain and deepen its own development while pursuing its enlargement agenda”.
In its special report on the EU's integration capacity, annexed to the strategic report approved on Wednesday, the Commission underlines that, “Enlargement is about sharing a project based on common principles, policies and institutions. The Union has to ensure it can maintain its capacity to act and decide according to a fair balance within institutions, respect budgetary limits, and implement ambitious common policies that function well and achieve their objectives”. The Commission said that the EU should certainly honour its commitments already made to candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia) but also to other countries from the Balkans which all have European prospects but “we should also show caution when this involves a new commitment” in the future. Rehn underlined the fact that future EU institutional reform “should have been achieved” before the next members (like Croatia) are ready to join.
The Union's capacity to integrate new Member States is determined by two factors, explains the Commission: maintaining the scale for strengthening and deepening European integration while giving the Union the means to function, which is in the interest of its current and future citizens; ensure that candidate countries are ready to assume the obligations resulting from accession, while seeing that they fulfil the rigorous conditions laid down. The Commission insisted that, “The pace of the accession process depends on the results of the reforms in a candidate country: quality is more important than speed”. He added that, “It is obvious that the EU accession process is no bullet train - no Eurostar, pas de TGV. It is rather like the Orient Express, a train which takes its time where the quality of the service and comfort comes first”.
The Union's integration capacity will be the subject of re-examination at all “key stages of the enlargement process”, suggest the Commission. In its opinions on the accession requests during the whole of the accession negotiations, the Commission will also proceed to examining the impact of accession on the main action areas. When examining the impact of future accessions, the Commission will also examine their impact on political principles like agricultural and cohesion policy.
Commissioner Rehn affirmed that “we must also improve the quality of the accession process” and proposed that reference criteria are defined for opening and closing negotiation chapters. Difficult questions like legal reform, the fight against corruption, should in the future be tacked right at the beginning of the accession process. With the objective of transparency, the Commission is also recommending the publication of major reports linked to accession negotiations, notably impact studies, stages reports, reference criteria for opening common EU chapters and position for negotiations.
Rehn insisted that it is essential that enlargement is supported by the public, “We need to ensure public support for enlargement. Maintaining rigour in the process and strict conditionality is essential to safeguard this support. So is confidence about the EU´s integration capacity. We also need to communicate enlargement better. It is important to listen to citizens, address their concerns and tackle myths with facts”. On this issue, “Member States must show an example” affirmed the Commission which also wants to play its role, together with the European Parliament, national, regional and local authorities and civil society.
The Commission is also taking a position against the idea of setting EU external borders. “The question of the ultimate borders of the European Union has been raised in recent years. This has enabled the Commission to draw a number of conclusions. The term 'European' combines geographical, historical, and cultural elements which all contribute to European identity. The shared experience of ideas, values and historical interaction cannot be condensed into a simple timeless formula and is subject to review by each succeeding generation”. (hb)