Adhésion possible de 10 pays en 2004, et de 2 en 2007
The Commission report: Europe on the eve of enlargement
The report of the European Commission on progress towards accession was published on Wednesday October 9th. It marks a new turning point in the enlargement process: the 10 countries already earmarked at the Laeken Council last December are considered ready for accession in 2004 in line with the original timetable drawn up at the Nice summit in December 2000. This recommendation is based on the political, economic and technical criteria defined in Copenhagen in 1993. According to the Commission, the applicant countries have made real progress in the fields of macroeconomic stabilization and the implementation of the Acquis communautaire into their legal system. But some significant deficiencies have been highlighted and the countries concerned are requested to continue their efforts until the date of accession, and in particular to honour the commitments made during the negotiations.
The Commission points particularly to: administrative inadequacies in many fields, including that of justice, weaknesses in the fight against corruption, fraud and economic crime, the failure to complete industrial reorganization and the persistent discrimination against minorities. Poland comes in for special mention as needing to make considerable efforts in these areas. Indeed, long delays have been noted in the spheres of agriculture, fishing, food safety and the environment. The report asks the Polish authorities to deal with these issues as a matter of urgency. Malta and Latvia are also facing criticism in several areas, notably on the Environment. Finally, only Cyprus and Slovenia are considered to be fully prepared to face the keen competition of the single market. For all the candidates, a final report will be published 3 months before their actual accession to the European Union.
The Commission announces its wish to control, both stringently and exhaustively, the implementation of the requisite improvements and will to this end put in place a veritable monitoring procedure able to continue beyond the date of accession. Preventive warnings could be sent in the event of delay. Reference is made to the possibility that failure to honour commitments could destabilize the single market, and two year safeguard clauses could be used in this case. The Commission also threatens not to distribute Community funds if management and follow-up systems are not ready. Finally, it recalls that it is possible to appeal to the European Court of Justice in the event of persistent failure to honour commitments.
For Bulgaria and Romania, the report mentions the progress achieved last year. Bulgaria is even regarded as a functioning market economy. For both countries, the Commission mentions that it takes note of their wish to become members by the year 2007. On the other hand, in the case of Turkey, officially a candidate since 1999, the Commission merely congratulates the considerable efforts made by this country but does not suggest a date for the opening of negotiations.
This report must now be approved by the European Council of Brussels (24th-25th October). The negotiations will then continue, in particular on tying up the budgetary and financial aspects. It will only be in December, in Copenhagen, that the 15 Member States will officially approve the accessions. The year 2003 will then be devoted to the ratification process of the Accession Treaties, both in the applicant countries and in the present Member States. The full participation of 25 countries in the European Parliamentary elections in June 2004, will constitute the first step towards the reunification of Europe.
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