Summary: March 30, 2005: MEPs back Romanian and Bulgarian EU entry but want a say on any postponement (Brussels)
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approved EU accession for Romania and Bulgaria by an overwhelming majority on Wednesday, while demanding the right for MEPs to stay "involved fully in the ongoing process" until the two countries actually join the EU, in particular in any decisions on postponing accession. Romania's accession was approved by 59 votes in favour, 2 against and 9 abstentions. The majority for Bulgaria was even larger: 71 votes to 1 with 1 abstention. The final vote
will be taken in plenary on 13 April.
Formally, Parliament would no longer have a role to play in the run-up to the accession of the two countries once it has given its assent. However, MEPs want to be able to continue to influence the course of events in both countries until the actual accessions take place, slated for 2007. Therefore, they want to be involved in a new mechanism which has been introduced in the Accession Treaty for Bulgaria and Romania and by which the Council may decide to postpone accession if the two countries
fail to take measures required in time. MEPs thus adopted an amendment to the resolutions giving their assent for Bulgaria and Romania, saying that the Council and the Commission must involve Parliament fully in the ongoing process. In a debate held the previous day, MEPs received assurances from enlargement commissioner Olli REHN that they would indeed be involved in this. On the other hand, Luxembourg's European Affairs Minister Nicolas SCHMIT, speaking on behalf of the Council, was less
forthcoming.
In an accompanying political resolution on Bulgaria, drawn up by Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK) and also adopted on Wednesday, MEPs said that the country had made excellent progress so far, but they noted a number of steps its government still needs to take. Thus they criticised the failure of the Bulgarian parliament to adopt new penal codes for fighting corruption more effectively and also called for greater efforts to combat organised crime. The Foreign Affairs Committee warmly welcomed the
recent launch of the 'Decade of Roma Inclusion', and measures to improve housing in city areas mainly populated by Roma but also pointed out that more needs to be done to end segregation of Roma children in schools, reduce high unemployment rates and provide better health care.
MEPs welcomed Bulgaria's economic performance and were pleased that the government intends to rerun the auction for Bulgartabac subsidiaries. They were worried, however, that due to the agreement on the closure of the Kozloduy nuclear plant, there was a risk of energy blackouts in the entire region. They therefore urged the EU Council of Ministers to be more flexible.
In a similar resolution on Romania, drawn up by Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR), the Foreign Affairs Committee praised reforms introduced in Romania and further commitments made by the newly installed government, such as on increasing freedom of the press, improvements in schools and participation in the 'Decade of Roma Inclusion', but it also drew attention to serious shortcomings which need to be addressed. These include the need for effective implementation of administrative and judicial reforms,
the need to continue the fight against corruption, especially at a high level, the eradication of all violence and discrimination against minority groups, improving the treatment of psychiatric patients, more efficient border controls, correct application of state aid laws and strengthening environment protection.
30.03.2005 Committee on Foreign Affairs
In the chair: Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, DE)
Procedure: Assent
Plenary vote: Strasbourg, 13 April
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