B4-0356, 0357, 0364 and 0367/99

Resolution on the results of the extraordinary European Council in Berlin on 24/25 March 1999

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the European Council report and Commission statement on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Berlin on 24/25 March 1999 and to the Presidency conclusions,

- having regard to its resolutions of 14 January 1999 on improving the financial management of the Commission ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 1.)) and 23 March 1999 on the resignation of the Commission and the appointment of a new Commission ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 2.)),

- having regard to the first report by the Committee of Independent Experts on the allegations of fraud, mismanagement and nepotism in the Commission,

A. whereas balanced development as well as social and economic cohesion among the European regions are fundamental objectives of the European Union, which can only be attained through genuine solidarity among the Member States,

I. Agenda 2000

1. Notes that the European Council succeeded in reconciling the differing national interests of the 15 Member States to reach an overall agreement on Agenda 2000 in Berlin, despite the difficult institutional and international circumstances in which the Berlin meeting was held;

2. Notes, however, that Parliament is now preparing reports and will adopt its detailed positions on the Agenda 2000 package at the May 1999 part-session;

Financial perspective

3. Recalls that a new financial perspective requires an Interinstitutional Agreement and that the European Council conclusions on this point are therefore to be regarded as a contribution to the continuing negotiations between Parliament and Council; notes that the Council has not met the conditions laid down by Parliament for a new Interinstitutional Agreement and believes that the Council will have to show flexibility if these negotiations are to produce an Interinstitutional Agreement capable of obtaining Parliament's support at the May 1999 part-session;

4. Notes that the proposed amounts available for measures against long-term unemployment and supporting active labour market policy related to the implementation of the European employment strategy are reduced quite significantly, in both heading 2 and heading 3; reminds the Council therefore of its political will to develop employment and equal opportunities and recalls that the new financial perspective should provide a reasonable financial basis for those political priorities;

5. Regrets in particular that:

- the financial perspective adopted by the Council makes no provision for realistic levels of funding under headings 3, 4 and 5, respectively internal policies, external action and administrative expenditure, unless activities are significantly reduced,

- Parliament's flexibility in financing currently unforeseen activities is far from ensured; fears in particular that this lack of margin for manoeuvre could prevent the EU from taking urgent action such as that needed to improve the catastrophic situation of refugees following the Kosovo crisis;

6. Calls for the introduction of a review clause for the financial perspectives on the occasion of enlargement, with effect from the first round, or in the event that the assumptions on which the perspectives are based are not borne out;

7. Consequently calls on the Commission, as foreseen by Article 25 of the 1993 Interinstitutional Agreement, to submit a preliminary draft budget for 2000, pursuant to Article 203 (future Article 272) of the EC Treaty;

Reform of the CAP

8. Notes the outcome of the extraordinary summit with regard to reform of the CAP and notes that, although the reform is still far from complete, the objective of stabilising expenditure has been respected, and Parliament's opinion has been taken into account; now that an agreement has been reached on agricultural reform, and the EU is in a better position for the forthcoming discussions, calls for the next round of WTO negotiations not to concentrate solely on customs tariffs; also considers it essential that environmental and social questions play an equally important part in commercial agricultural decisions,

Structural policy

9. Welcomes the fact that the Council agreed on a common position on the Structural and Cohesion Funds which makes it possible to finance measures for economic cohesion and development in backward areas, also within the context of stabilising such expenditure; regrets that it did not follow more closely Parliament's priorities;

Enlargement

10. Notes the positive signal sent by the European Council to the countries negotiating for accession, while noting that the financial package adopted by the Council, generally tailored to fit the 15, makes only relatively modest provision for preparations for enlargement;

11. Underlines the need to take forward the negotiating and accession process at as rapid a pace as possible with all the applicant states which qualify under the Copenhagen criteria;

12. Calls for such negotiations to be opened with Malta as soon as possible, but in any case before the end of 1999;

13. Requests that the pre-accession instruments promote above all sustainable development and involve democratic decision-making at all levels; stresses again the need for the beneficiary countries to be involved in the shaping, management and supervision of those instruments;

II. Nomination of the new Commission

14. Welcomes the fact that the Member States have agreed on the nomination of Romano Prodi as President of the Commission; calls on the President-designate to put the necessary reforms in hand and establish a new climate of trust with Parliament before the next European elections;

15. Regrets that the European Council¨s decision not to nominate immediately new Commissioners will not allow the renewal of the Commission as speedily as proposed by Parliament; recalls, however, the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam (Article 214) which require the Commission nominated from January 2000 to be the subject of a vote of approval in the European Parliament;

16. Expresses its intention to vote on the approval of the nomination for President of the Commission at its May 1999 part-session; shares the view that the newly elected Parliament should approve the new Commission as early as possible;

17. Considers it necessary before the final vote to discuss thoroughly with the nominated Commission President his programme as well as the reforms of the Commission, and its composition;

18. Declares itself completely opposed to Commissioner Cresson remaining in office and states that it will not enter into any cooperation with her as long as she continues in office;

19. Finds it unacceptable, given the seriousness of the findings of the Committee of Independent Experts, that Commissioner Cresson should continue to hold her position even within a caretaker Commission;

III. Foreign Affairs

20. Welcomes the statement on the Middle East Peace Process, and in particular the reaffirmation of the continuing and unqualified Palestinian right to self-determination and the call for an early resumption of final status negotiations with the aim of concluding these within one year; remains convinced that the final outcome of the current process is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and recognition by the Arab world of the State of Israel's existence and its right to security;

21. Congratulates the European Council on approving the trade and cooperation Agreement with South Africa but notes that it has taken four years of intensive negotiations to conclude the agreement;

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