A4-0282/96

Resolution on the economic and trade aspects of the Europe Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0282/96),

A. conscious of the Slovenian people's centuries-old links with the European and central European economic area,

B. whereas, during their history, the Slovenes have made significant contributions to economic, scientific, technological, cultural and political development in Europe,

C. having regard to the vigorous efforts made by Slovenia since its declaration of independence in 1990 to speed up as far as possible, by means of market and democratic reforms, the forging of closer relations with the European Union and eventual attainment of full membership, and in so doing to enjoy all the rights and fulfil all the obligations which this entails on a completely equal footing,

D. whereas Slovenia has declared its willingness to take on the international obligations concerning Slovenia which were entered into by the Yugoslav Federation, such as the Treaty of Osimo with Italy, has taken over its share of Yugoslavia's debt and is servicing it in exemplary fashion,

E. conscious of the important position Slovenia has in intra-European trade owing to its central location, and whereas the development of Slovenia's infrastructure is also in the interests of the European Union,

F. having regard to the association agreement between the EU and Slovenia, which was signed on 10 June 1996 and is now awaiting ratification,

1. Welcomes the signing of the association agreement between the EU and Slovenia on 10 June 1996;

2. Notes that Slovenia's per capita GDP is the highest of all the former command economies and that trends in the country's macroeconomic performance are very positive;

3. Welcomes the fact that Slovenia, with its balanced budget and a public debt currently standing at only about 30% of GDP, is also endeavouring to have met all five Maastricht criteria by the year 2000 and that it has already met the two fiscal criteria;

4. Welcomes the fact that Slovenia intends to combat regional disparities, continue its rigorous policy of polycentric development and further reduce the level of unemployment, which is currently 13.8% (but, according to standard ILO statistical methods, barely 7%) and falling;

5. Urges the Slovenian government to forge ahead, in a fair and comprehensive manner, with the privatization and reprivatization process and to ensure that the economy, which has been dominated during the past five decades by state- owned enterprises and 'social ownership', is transferred not only de jure but also de facto to private ownership; calls on the Commission to place at the disposal of the Slovenian government, if so requested, experts in EU company and corporate law so that the privatization process can be completed in accordance with the standards of the EU which Slovenia will be joining in the near future;

6. Proposes that Slovenia's competitiveness be reinforced by utilizing the economic reform process in order to ensure broad-based asset formation and the development of viable small businesses;

7. Calls upon the Council, the Commission, the Member States and the European Investment Bank to provide long-term support for large infrastructure projects to link Slovenia to the Union, for example the Ljubljana to Venice motorway, via Gorizia or Trieste, the Ljubljana to Trieste to Venice high-speed train line, north to south rail and motorway links, and intermodal transport infrastructure to serve border areas;

8. Notes with satisfaction Slovenia's efforts to achieve even closer economic and political cooperation not only with all neighbouring EU Member States but also with Hungary and Croatia and, in so doing, to take part in cross-border programmes such as PHARE, INTERREG, etc., which must be continued and further developed by the EU;

9. Calls on the Commission to provide financial aid for the conversion projects made necessary in the frontier regions between Slovenia and the EU because of the disappearance of activities typical of such regions (customs, import and export activities), and for projects to regenerate and enhance the environment, an opportunity arising from the joint planning to which the Isonzo basin will be subject in future, and to provide support for the economic and cultural cooperation between the sister border towns of Gorizia (Italy) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and, secondly, Bad Radkersburg (Austria) and Gornja Radgona (Slovenia), taking particular account also of protection of the environment;

10. Welcomes the fact that, as a founder member of the WTO and as a member of CEFTA that has also concluded a free-trade agreement with EFTA, Slovenia has unambiguously declared its support for international free trade;

11. Welcomes the fact that the framework conditions for the rapidly developing social market economy in Slovenia are positive as regards the rule of law, democracy and the protection of minorities;

12. Welcomes the Nationalities Law described by the Council of Europe as exemplary, particularly with regard to the special status of the indigenous Italian and Hungarian ethnic groups and calls on the Slovenian Government to further consolidate the protection and assistance afforded to all minorities traditionally resident on its territory;

13. Welcomes the compromise reached between Italy and Slovenia on the basis of a proposal made by the Spanish Presidency of the EU and urges both sides to put that compromise fully into practice soon and, as announced, to conclude a bilateral agreement on the protection of minorities;

14. Calls upon the EU institutions responsible and the Member States to ratify the association agreement without delay;

15. Welcomes the association agreement and the fact that Slovenia submitted its application for accession to the EU on 10 June 1996, placing it amongst the first group of applicant countries;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the parliament of the Republic of Slovenia.