B4-0021, 0024, 0026, 0027 and 0033/97

Resolution on the Dublin European Council of 13 and 14 December 1996

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 11 December 1996 on the preparations for the European Council meeting of 13 and 14 December 1996 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 1(a).)),

- having regard to the conclusions of the Dublin European Council of 13 and 14 December 1996,

- having regard to the statement of the President of the European Council,

A. having regard to the citizens' legitimate desire that the European Union should take measures in the areas of employment, security and the fight against crime, economic and social growth and external relations,

B. whereas the Ministerial Conference in Singapore offered the first opportunity since the founding of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to draw up, at the highest level, an assessment of the WTO's work and to set a course towards more environmentally sound and more socially equitable world trade,

C. having regard, in connection with the IGC, to its resolution of 16 January 1997 on the general outline for a draft revision of the Treaties ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 1(b).)),

1. Welcomes the overall results achieved by the Irish Presidency of the Council and salutes the progress made;

Intergovernmental Conference

2. Welcomes the draft revision of the Treaties proposed by the Irish Presidency of the Council; regrets however that, notably in the fields of democratization and efficiency of the institutions, strengthening the role of the European Parliament, transparency of Council proceedings and the common foreign and security policy, not enough progress has been made; calls therefore on the Dutch Presidency of the Council to develop further the positive proposals by the Irish Presidency, including those on employment, non-discrimination and environment protection;

3. Insists that the Intergovernmental Conference ensure that in the new title on employment, guidelines for employment policy and economic policy be mutually consistent in order to promote growth and employment along with stability;

4. Welcomes the proposal in the draft revision of the Treaties to remove from the third pillar asylum and immigration policy questions, policy regarding third-country nationals, external borders, visa and customs cooperation, and urges Member States and the Council to agree on a role providing for democratic control by the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice, to be laid down in the new Article G;

Economic and Monetary Union

5. Welcomes the threefold agreement secured as part of the preparations for the third stage of European monetary union on the legal status of the Euro, the new European Monetary System (EMS) and the stability and growth pact; all the guarantees which should enable the Euro to become one of the world's strongest currencies are thus now in place and will ultimately favour growth and employment;

(a) on the pact for stability and growth, believes that the agreement reached by the European Council provides mechanisms to ensure budgetary discipline while preserving - albeit insufficiently - the role of economic policy to act effectively against economic downturns; regrets, however, that many concerns of the European Parliament regarding this pact, as expressed by its amendments to the two proposals for Council regulations concerning the pact voted on 28 November 1996 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 7.)) by a very large majority of members, have so far been largely ignored both by the Council and the European Council; therefore, urges the Council to take these into account when finalizing the proposals for regulations concerned;

(b) on the legal framework of the euro, believes that the two proposals for regulations, although providing adequate certainty for the continuity of contracts, should be complemented by additional measures in order to improve information and protection for consumers;

(c) welcomes the Council's commitment to the Commission's EMS 2000 initiative and urges the Council and Commission to make further progress in 1997; welcomes the linkages which it will be possible to establish between future 'in¨ and 'pre-in¨ countries; is, however, concerned that the institutional setting envisaged for the operation and monitoring of the new Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) will give great influence to those parts of the structure not subject to democratic control, particularly the Economic and Financial Committee; is concerned that this may reinforce the trend towards a gradual de-politicization of economic policy decision-making at European level;

6. Recalls the recommendation it made in its resolution of 28 November 1996 embodying the opinion of the European Parliament, pursuant to Article 109j, paragraph 2, of the EC Treaty, on the 1996 convergence decision by the Council, meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or of Government ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 9(a).)) that full use should be made of the assessment margin laid down in Article 104c(2) of the EC Treaty so that the third stage of EMU starts with a sufficient number of participants, and reiterates its view that the imbalance between the European Central Bank and the other European institutions, particularly the European Parliament, has to be overcome by extending consultation procedures;

7. Calls for greater cooperation in the fiscal and economic policy fields between the Member States after 1 January 1999 and stresses in this connection the importance of defining and implementing a genuine common economic policy;

Growth and employment

8. Welcomes the Dublin Declaration on employment and notes particularly the declared intention to 'exploit new sources of employment¨, but warns the European Council not to reiterate declarations of principles unless they are followed by real commitments, backed by instruments, targets and a timetable, in order to re-establish public confidence in the European Union;

9. Therefore invites the Council and the Commission to translate the declaration into action without delay, through reinforced integration of employment policies and a growth-oriented macroeconomic policy, and a strengthening of structural policies backed by a set of common indicators to measure the performances of the Member States in the employment field, and by implementation of the 'Essen programme¨ to establish a framework of transnational cooperation and spread of best practices between Member States; endorses the guidelines incorporated in the global report on employment, but looks to the Member States finally to put these guidelines into practice, so that the report does not remain a mere reminder of the need to promote employment;

10. Welcomes the European Council conclusions on a fiscal policy which is more favourable for employment and the Commission's initiatives in this field; recalls however that the unanimity requirement in fiscal policy has so far hindered all effective action in this area;

World Trade Organization

11. Welcomes the successful consolidation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the Singapore Conference, its decisions in favour of the poorest countries, the additional reductions in tariffs and the further opening-up of markets, and the results in the issue of trade in information technology products;

12. Asks the Council and the Commission, in their preparatory work before the next ministerial conference, to propose a revision to the WTO rules in favour of greater respect for internationally agreed environmental and social standards in accordance with the aim of an internationally agreed competition policy which would seek to ensure that world trade is not only free but also fair;

13. Reiterates in this connection its call that the Council and the Commission should submit to it for approval, pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 228(3) of the EC Treaty, all agreements negotiated in the WTO;

Home affairs

14. Points out, along with the European Council, its attachment to the maintenance and development of the European Union as an area of freedom, security and justice, respecting the rule of law and the protection of privacy;

15. Deplores once again the fact that a rising number of activities and developments in the framework of European justice and home affairs take place without any involvement of Parliament, and calls again for more democratic procedures in this field;

16. Insists that it be properly informed and consulted, in accordance with Article K.6 of the TEU, on current activities in the priority areas of drugs, organized crime, terrorism and sexual exploitation of children; such matters cannot solely be left to a plethora of Council and Commission bodies and requests that joint actions and resolutions in the field of drug abuse agreed by the Council be submitted to Parliament;

Enlargement

17. Welcomes the European Council's confirmation of the timetable proposed at Madrid for future enlargement of the Union, including the Commission's intention to strengthen further the pre-accession strategy, while stressing the vital importance of strict respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights in each of the acceding states;

18. Recalls its resolution of 12 December 1996 on the financing of the enlargement of the European Union ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 5.)) and reiterates its point of view that enlargement should go hand in hand with the deepening of the Union;

Foreign affairs

19. Expresses its agreement with the European Council declaration on the peace process in the Middle East and reaffirms the importance of a political initiative by the European Union seeking to relaunch the peace process on the basis of the agreements reached by the Israeli and Palestinian representatives; considers that the development of a Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the provision for a Union-Mediterranean charter constitute positive undertakings in following up the Barcelona Conference;

20. Reaffirms the importance of respect for human rights as regards relations between the European Union and Turkey and considers that, in the absence of any progress in this area, the Council and Commission should respect Parliament's position in this matter; hopes that the countries involved will resolutely commit themselves to achieving a positive solution in Cyprus in the framework of UN Security Council resolutions;

21. Considers that the European Union action plan for Russia and Ukraine is a useful instrument to maintain good relations with these countries and to maintain the process of economic and democratic transition; expresses it agreement with the position adopted concerning Belarus;

22. Welcomes the European Council declaration expressing concern at the situation in the Great Lakes Region; regrets, however, that the lack of unity within the Council and the position adopted by the United States have effectively prevented the deployment of the multinational force while the lives of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons are still at risk in Eastern Zaire and there remains a concrete threat of a generalized conflict in the region; therefore supports the Commission proposal for an overall European Union action plan for the region, but reaffirms the importance of active participation in conflict prevention and requests that a European Union analysis centre become a reality as soon as possible;

23. Takes note of the European Council's position on different subjects, in particular relations between the European Union and the United States, Canada and East Timor, but notes with concern the European Council's failure to adopt a position on the situation in Burma;

24. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council and the other institutions.