A4-0060/96

Resolution on the report from the European Council to the European Parliament on the progress of the European Union in 1994 (pursuant to Article D of the Treaty on European Union)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article D of the Treaty on European Union,

- having regard to the report from the European Council to the European Parliament on the progress of the European Union in 1994 (C4-0173/95) and to the activities of the European Council in 1995,

- having regard to its resolution of 18 May 1995 on progress in implementing the common foreign and security policy (November 1993 - December 1994) (Article J.7 of the Treaty on European Union) ((OJ C 151, 19.6.1995, p. 223.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 17 May 1995 on the functioning of the Treaty on European Union with a view to the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference - Implementation and development of the Union ((OJ C 151, 19.6.1995, p. 56.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 14 December 1995 on the agenda for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference with a view to the Madrid European Council ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 149.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 14 December 1995 on the progress made in 1995 in the implementation of cooperation in the fields of justice and home affairs pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 179.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Institutional Affairs (A4-0060/96),

A. conscious of the fact that the principal goal of the Treaty was to base the Union on a strengthening of democratic legitimacy, of which the European Parliament is the clearest, and of the legitimacy of the Member States, of which the European Council is the ultimate expression,

B. whereas, therefore, dialogue between the European Council and Parliament, as enshrined in Article D, is a cornerstone of the new European structure,

C. whereas the creation of such a structure requires a strengthening of European citizenship and genuine subsidiarity in relations between Member States and the European institutions,

D. convinced that the latter must operate in a transparent manner and that the scope of the codecision procedure involving Parliament and the Council must be extended,

E. whereas the first debate on the state of the Union, held in plenary in November 1995, should not be used by the European Council as a pretext for backing out of its formal obligations towards Parliament,

F. whereas the Commission must be more closely involved in the codecision procedure so as to be able fully to perform its official role of mediator,

G. whereas the results achieved by the Treaty as regards social policy have been negative and whereas Europe's economic recovery must take place within a socially integrated context,

H. whereas, given the concern to ensure transparency and democracy, democratic scrutiny of matters relating to EMU must be increased substantially,

I - EVOLUTION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND PARLIAMENT

1. Is gratified that, as a result of the Treaty on European Union, the European Council is now required to submit to Parliament a yearly written report on the progress achieved by the Union;

2. Takes the view that dialogue between the European Council and Parliament must be stepped up:

- by means of more frequent attendance by the President of the European Council at Parliament's part-sessions and by regularly involving the President of Parliament in the European Council's work,

- by means of a more detailed assessment by Parliament of the European Council's strategies as regards the planning of the work of the institutions;

3. Considers it desirable for the Union's legislative priorities:

- to be laid down by the institutions, after the European Council has drawn up its yearly report on the progress achieved by the Union and has drawn up its general political guidelines for the following year at its December meeting,

- to be submitted formally at an annual debate, attended by the Presidents of the European Council, the Council, the Commission and Parliament, on the state of and prospects for the Union, thus helping to improve the efficiency of the Union's decision-making process;

4. Proposes that the various reports and communications on progress made with developing the Union (cf. in particular Articles D, J.7 and K.6 of the TEU and Article 156 of the EC Treaty) be coordinated, so that the Community institutions can, at an annual joint debate, determine the major general political guidelines;

5. Notes that constructive dialogue with the European Council may be achieved by means of oral questions to the Presidency of the European Council;

6. Takes the view that the following comments may be made on the first report on the progress of the Union pursuant to the third paragraph of Article D of the Treaty:

(a) as regards procedure, it is doubtful whether the report has been 'adopted' by the General Affairs Council, following deliberations within the European Council,

(b) as regards substance, it merely lists the work done during the year, without any attempt at a political analysis of the nature of the events referred to or, in particular, the progress achieved or difficulties encountered as regards the functioning of the Union;

II - THE PRINCIPAL GOALS OF THE UNION AS SET OUT IN THE REPORT

The new legislative procedures

7. Takes the view that implementation of the objectives laid down in the Treaty on European Union was still very low-key in 1994 and did not appreciably improve interinstitutional dialogue, particularly in the legislative field; regrets therefore, that proposals concerning social, environmental and fiscal policy and company law have been blocked for several years;

8. Points out that, in 50 areas of legislation, the TEU requires the Council to act unanimously and that this hampers the attainment of certain objectives which must be met if the Union is to achieve progress;

9. Notes that, although it would be better if dialogue between Parliament and the Council commenced as soon as a proposal for legislation is submitted, the codecision procedure has yielded positive results;

Citizenship

10. Regrets the delay in introducing genuine freedom of movement for persons;

11. Welcomes the fact that the first objectives set out in Articles 8, 8a, 8b and 8c have been achieved, notably as regards the adoption of provisions concerning diplomatic protection, but considers that the concept of citizenship should be given greater substance by guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights;

Economic and monetary union

12. Welcomes the progress made with preparations for introducing the single currency; notes that there must be a reference scenario guaranteeing full respect for the Treaty, whilst also strengthening mechanisms for increased cooperation on economic, social and fiscal matters, before entry into the third stage of EMU can be considered irreversible; believes that the Italian Presidency should ensure that progress is made on the 'essential and complex' question of the relationships between the currencies of Member States which will be part of the EMU and those of Member States which will remain outside of it;

Common foreign and security policy

13. Regrets the refusal of the Council of the Union to define with Parliament the terms under which Parliament is to be involved, in accordance with the new provisions of the TEU, and notes that an analysis centre and efficient decision-making mechanisms have not yet been established;

Justice and home affairs

14. Regrets likewise the refusal of the Council of the Union to define with Parliament the terms under which Parliament is to be involved, in accordance with the new provisions of the TEU; notes that the Council, by having adopted without legal basis 50 instruments (resolutions, recommendations, programmes and conclusions), without either the European Parliament or the national parliaments being involved in such 'inter-bureaucratic' procedures, is in breach of the fundamental principles of transparency and democracy;

15. Believes that insufficient progress has been made in implementing Title VI of the Treaty and regrets that the Europol Convention has still not entered into force;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council of the Union, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.