Brussels, 23/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption on Thursday by 44 votes to 5 and 4 abstentions of the report by its chairman, Elmar Brok (CDU), the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs made a critical analysis of the new EU enlargement strategy, presented on 8 November by Olli Rehn (EUROPE 9302). In order to take account of the EU's integration capacity, it will be necessary to review the provisions of the Nice Treaty before contemplating further enlargement, the report states, although it is not opposed to the prospect of membership by Croatia, indicating that this country does not put any extra pressure on the EU. More generally, it also calls for the Parliament to be able to give its assent, including before accession talks are initiated. On the whole, MEPs calls on the European institutions, the Member States and the national parliaments to communicate more effectively with the public on the timetable for enlargement to ensure the process is transparent.
In agreement with the Commission on the key elements of consolidation, conditionality and communication that should guide the new strategy, the report also embodies the principle of the EU's integration capacity at the institutional, financial and political level, but regrets the lack of detail in the analysis on such questions (the full text of the Commission report was published in our series EUROPE/Documents on 23 November, No 2452). The Commission's response on this is “unsatisfactory” as the EP had expressed its hope that a report would be given detailing the principles underpinning the concept of integration capacity. MEPs believe the Commission dealt with the institutional aspects of the question in a “superficial” manner and did not examine the financial chapter “completely”. They call on it to provide clear and credible estimates of the budgetary impact before any further enlargements take place. In their view, the future revision of the EU budget 2008/2009 should integrate the future enlargement of candidate countries or potential candidates.
The Council of the EU's General Affairs and Ecofin groupings are also expected to examine this point during the joint debate, indicated the report. Taking up the formulation from the Stubb report, adopted by the constitutional affairs committee last week (EUROPE 9307), the Brok report underlined that the Treaty of Nice “does not provide an appropriate basis for new enlargements”. A more neutral approach is needed than that initially supported by its rapporteur, which explicitly subjected any new enlargement to the adoption of a Constitution for Europe. MEPs are encouraging their Heads of State and Governments to “conclude the constitutional process by the end of 2008, whatever happens, before the next European Parliament elections, in order to get the EU functioning more efficiently, transparently and democratically, which is a necessary preliminary to other enlargements”.
Parliamentarians point out that the improvement in the integration capacity is the responsibility of the EU and not candidate countries. They believe that failure to allow the EU's integration capacity to correspond with the calendar of enlargements is a failure and will weaken the Union internally and externally. They also reaffirm that accession negotiations are progressing according to the merits and successes of the individual country in question but want more attention paid to the Copenhagen political criteria, notably the rule of law, by establishing a direct link between criteria and the beginning, the rhythm and negotiations of the accession.
MEPs consider that all the European institutions have been too soft in the past when evaluating progress in the domain of justice, corruption and fundamental rights in the first phases of negotiations and are committed to being more pro-active in the follow-up to the negotiation process on these issues. The Council will do well to submit “clear and motivated recommendations to candidate countries rather than simply taking note of the technical progress in negotiations”, they add. MEPs consider that the European Parliament is expected to be better involved in the negotiations and also call for the EP to be invited to give its verdict on the right of assent procedure, not only once accession negotiations are concluded but also before they are opened.
The report points out the clear European perspectives for the western Balkan countries. It gives a particular welcome to the progress made by Croatia towards the EU and “observes that this country of less than 4.5 million inhabitants is well prepared and does not overload EU integration capacity”. Negotiations with Turkey: the report notes that Ankara is working “constructively” to ensure “full implementation of the additional protocol by the end of the year”. For countries without established accession perspectives, Parliament calls on the Commission and the Council to produce proposals in favour of close bilateral or multilateral relations. (ab)