8.Hungary
A5-0248/2000
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononHungary’sapplicationformembershipoftheEuropean Union
andthe stateofnegotiations (COM(1999)505−C5-0028/2000/dash1997/2175(COS))
The European Parliament,
Pdash havingregardtoHungary’sapplicationformembershipoftheEuropeanUnionsubmittedon31March
1994, pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU,
Pdash having regard to the opinion of the Commission on this application (COM(1997) 2001 Pdash C4-0373/
1997),
Pdash having regard tothe 1999Regular Report onHungary’s progresstowardsaccession(COM(1999)505
Pdash C5-0028/2000) and to the 1999 Composite Paper of the Commission (COM(1999) 500 Pdash
C5-0341/2000),
Pdash having regard to the decisions taken at the European Council, notably in Copenhagen (21/22 June
1993), Luxembourg (12/13 December 1997), and Helsinki (11/12 December 1999),
Pdash havingregardtotheEurope Agreement betweentheEuropeanCommunitiesandtheirMemberStates,
of the one part, and Hungary of the other part,
Pdash having regard to the Accession Partnership for Hungary,Pdash havingregardtoitsresolutionof15April19991(
1)onthefirstRegularReportfromtheCommission
on Hungary’s progress towards accession,
Pdash having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,Pdash having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security
and Defence Policy (A5-0248/2000),
A. notingthatinHungary the overallsituationasregards democracyandthe rule oflawcontinuestobe
satisfactory and that human rights and respect for fundamental rights are upheld within the country,
B. noting that Hungarian foreign policy, with particular regard to the situation of Hungarian minorities
outside Hungarian borders and to developments in the Balkans, is already making a significant con-tribution to the political stability in the region,
C. whereas, asregards thequestionofethnicminorities,insufficientattentioncontinuestobepaidtothe
situation of the Roma, who suffer severe discrimination in education, on the employment market,
within public services and in civil society; whereas education for Roma children is segregated, the
level of education is very low and unemployment among the Roma is alarmingly high; whereas dis-crimination against the Roma may, for the most part, be regarded as an attitude problem, which the
Hungarian Government must tackle seriously; whereas it should be possible to find a solution given
thataMinorities Office hasbeen setupandmedium-termlegislation hasbeen passedwhich willhelpthem to become integrated into Hungarian society,
D. whereas Hungary has consolidated its economic growth, and whereas this growth makes the country
the economic leader in its region; whereas, in the opinion of the Hungarian authorities, structuraladjustments could enable Hungary to achieve a GDP growth rate of approximately 7% per year in
the medium term,
E. notingthatreformstopublicfinancesandimprovementstothebalanceofpaymentshaveenabledthe
country’s external debt to be reduced, and that an increase in consumption is apparent, as is a con-
tinuing increase in wages following an earlier period of restraint,
(1) OJ C 219, 30.07.1999, p. 439.C 178/146 EN22.6.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities
Wednesday4October2000
F. drawing attention to the fact that, if Hungarian agriculture is to achieve EU productivity levels and if
the people it employs are to achieve income levels which are more or less comparable with those ofEU farmers, the agricultural market will have to be completely opened up to the capital which is
needed for privatisation and the establishment of healthy, viable agricultural businesses will have to
be encouraged,
G. having been informed that the Hungarian Parliament has adopted a set of legislative texts including
measures to eradicate money-laundering and racketeering, outlaw criminal operations and increase
penalties for drugs trafficking and prostitution,
H. noting with satisfaction that a joint declaration on cross-border environmental protection has been
signed by Hungary, Slovakia, the Ukraine and Romania, and pointing out that implementation and
EU monitoring of this agreement could help to prevent ecological disasters such as the one whichrecently affected the Danube and the Tiszla rivers following a discharge of cyanide,
I. aware that Hungary is making steady and satisfactory progress in bringing its domestic law into line
with EU law,
J. whereas the meetings which have sofar been held by the EU-Hungary joint parliamentary committee
have made a significant contribution tomutual understanding and will continue to exert a favourable
influence on preparations for accession,
K. noting with satisfaction that Hungary has drawn up a national programme for the adoption of the
Community acquiswith very strict deadlines, and hoping that the Council, too, will fulfil the commit-
mentitgaveattheEUSummitinHelsinkitocreate, by2002,theconditionsfortheaccessionofnewMember States,
1. Notes democratic support within the Hungarian Parliament for Hungary’s accession to the European
Union and advocates greater efforts to secure a consensus amongst the Hungarian people on that issue;
2. Stresses, however, the need for firm, foreseeable dates for the conclusion of the negotiations and for
accessiontobeestablishedassoonaspossibleinordertohelp prevent disappointmentoreven discontent
within certain sectors of Hungarian society;
3. Expects both Hungary and the European Union to make every effort to create the conditions for
accession at the earliest possible opportunity;
4. Confirms that Hungary has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria;
5. Hopesthatthemedium-termmeasuresintendedtopreventdiscriminationagainsttheRomacommu-
nity (particularly in the fields of education, employment, healthcare and housing) will provide a usefulmeans of integrating that community into Hungarian society on a basis of mutual understanding; calls
on the Hungarian authorities to establish the appropriate structures and institutions for the successful
implementation ofintegration policies, toinvolve closelylocalauthorities andtoenhance Romaparticipa-tion in policy-making processes;
6. Urges theHungarian GovernmentandOppositiontosolvewithoutdelaytheproblemofthebalance
between the various political and party forces within the governing body of the state television companyand,over andabovethat,expects enhanced consultationbetween GovernmentandOppositiononmatters
relating to Hungary’s accession to the European Union;
7. Emphasises that the existence of a representative and autonomous social dialogue constitutes an
indispensable element of the accession preparations and urges the Hungarian Government to involve clo-sely the social partners and NGOs in economic and social policy-making processes;
8. CallsontheHungarianGovernmenttostepupitsfightagainstorganisedcrime,drugstraffickingand
corruptioninthewakeoftheprogressmadefollowingtheentryintoforceofthelegislationknownasthe
‘anti-mafia package’;22.6.2001 EN C 178/147 Official Journal of the European Communities
Wednesday4October2000
9. RecallsthatHungary servesasatransitanddestinationcountryfortrafficking inwomen,aphenom-
enon which is increasing in scale, and calls on the Hungarian Government to take effective measures tocombattraffickingandtoensurethatvictimsoftraffickingareguaranteedeffectiveprotection,supportand
rehabilitation;
10. Notes the positive economic growth indicators, which are accompanied by a downward trend in
inflation, although the latter is still substantially higher than in the euro area;
11. Draws attention to the need to enhance policies (such as the Széchenyi Plan) designed to stimulate
micro,smallandmedium-sizedbusinesses,whichaccountfornearlyhalfofthecountry’sGDPandprovide
employment for two-thirds of the total work force, with particular reference to taxation and competitive-ness;
12. Notes that, in the agricultural sector, non-nationals are still unable to purchase cultivable land and
pointsoutthattheprudentadoptionofamarketpolicycouldhelptoensurethatoptimumuseismadeof
such land;
13. Emphasisesthe need forthe modernisationofHungarian agriculture, forwhich EU aid is,however,
indispensableandinrespect ofwhichanincrease inmarketoutletsforHungarian agricultural productsonthe European Union’s internal market is essential;
14. Welcomes the efforts made by the Hungarian Government to consolidate and pursue structural
reforms relating to the budget, the civil service, pension schemes and privatisation which will enable thecountry, in the medium term, to withstand EU competitive pressures and market forces;
15. Considers, however, that the restructuring of the health sector must be speeded up in view of the
significant burden which it places on the public purse; notes in this connection the adoption of the new
arrangements relating to hospitals and the opportunity for general practitioners to work privately;
16. Welcomes the 13% increase in the 2000 budget for the environmental sector;17. Urges the government to renew its efforts to bring the relevant legislation into line and to adopt
measures to monitor air and water quality, to prevent and combat industrial pollution and to manage the
various types of waste;
18. Welcomes the recently adopted framework law on waste management and calls on Hungary to
continueitslegalharmonisationworkinthisfieldasquicklyaspossible;takestheviewthatthehazardousindustrialwastebillapprovedbytheHungarianParliamenton23May2000shouldbeappliedasamatter
of urgency;
19. Notes that, owing to its central geographical location, Hungary is one of the most important part-
ners for combating problems involving cross-border pollution, as recently occurred in the Danube andTiszla rivers; welcomes, therefore, the joint declaration on environmental protection concluded between
Hungary and its neighbours, Slovakia, the Ukraine and Romania, with the aim of preventing and combat-
ing cross-border environmental pollution, subject to strict EU monitoring of its application;
20. Welcomes the decision of the Hungarian and Slovak Governments to re-open the Maria Valeria
Bridge as a sign of European integration and to promote freedom of movement;
21. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncil,theCommission,the parliamentsof
the Member States and the Hungarian Government and Parliament.C 178/148 EN22.6.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities
Wednesday4October2000