B4-0479, 0480, 0483, 0485 and 0505/96

Resolution on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Turin on 29 and 30 March 1996

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the results of the Turin European Council meeting, which launched a new Intergovernmental Conference for the purpose of revising the Treaties with a view to the Union's prospective enlargement,

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

C. wishing to see the construction of a Europe which is more democratic, more transparent and more responsive to the concerns of the majority, i.e. the fight against unemployment and the severe social difficulties which are being experienced by the European countries,

D. having regard to the need for Europe to enhance its profile on the international scene and, as a consequence, to have a common foreign and security policy worthy of its position in the world,

The European Parliament,

1. Congratulates the Italian Presidency on its successful conclusion of the IGC's preparatory stages within the timetable, thus enabling the European Council to confer on it a sufficiently broad mandate to permit significant progress by the Union;

A citizens' Europe

2. Welcomes the priority given to the safeguarding of fundamental human rights in the European Union and considers that it is of prime importance for the IGC to ensure that significant progress is made in the areas of citizenship, justice and home affairs, it being imperative for the European Union to respond to the concerns of its citizens;

Employment

3. Recalls that every European Council from December 1993 in Brussels to March 1996 in Turin has stated that the highest priority must be given to the fight against unemployment; emphasizes that the credibility of the European Council is at stake in the work that it has set in train to prepare its next meeting in June 1996 in Florence, which will concentrate on this subject; insists that the full implementation of the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment and the adoption of the Commission's initiative for a European Confidence Pact on Employment with the social partners, including the revision of the financial perspective, are indispensable for a credible approach to this issue;

4. Notes in this respect that measures to promote employment should also be developed by the Member States, the regions and local communities and especially by the social partners;

5. Notes the intention of the Italian Presidency to hold, in June 1996, a tripartite conference bringing together the governments, the social partners and the Commission to discuss growth and employment, and awaits a Community employment initiative at the forthcoming European Council meeting in Florence;

More democratic and efficient institutions

6. Takes note of the decision concerning the participation of European Parliament representatives in the IGC, and will monitor the development of an adequate practice;

7. Considers that a fundamental reform of the institutions is essential to establish a more democratic and effective Union while adapting it to the challenges of its future enlargement;

8. Is surprised that in its conclusions the European Council does not refer to one of Parliament's priorities, namely the simplification and codification of the Treaty;

9. On the uniform electoral procedure:

(a) recalls that it has consistently supported the introduction of a uniform electoral procedure for elections to the European Parliament, and is surprised to note that its proposals submitted pursuant to Article 138(3) of the EC Treaty have not led to any action by the Council;

(b) while stressing the fully representative nature of Parliament, as the sole EU institution which is elected by direct universal suffrage, reiterates its desire to see the IGC propose the revision of Article 138(3) so as to facilitate the adoption and implementation of a uniform electoral procedure without calling in question the assent of Parliament;

10. Recalls the overriding need to improve the decision-making procedures in the interests of democracy and accountability, by extending codecision and the assent procedure;

11. Reiterates its demand that the IGC should introduce a clause making any further modification of the Treaty subject to Parliament's assent and calls on the European Council to undertake an immediate political commitment to make the signature and ratification of the future treaty conditional on a prior vote of Parliament approving it;

12. Considers that to avoid any risk of paralysis the question of including a 'reinforced cooperation clause' in the Treaty will have to be raised, to enable all Member States so wishing to advance further on the road to integration, subject to certain conditions and within the framework of, and with due regard for, the Treaty;

13. Calls for a swift reorganization and strengthening of interinstitutional dialogue between a representative delegation of the European Parliament, the governments of the Member States and the Commission on Treaty reforms;

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