European Parliament resolution on Bulgaria's application for membership of the European Union, and the state of negotiations (COM(1999) 501 — C5-0024/2000 — 1997/2179(COS))
Date: 2000-10-04
Institutions: Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Parliament
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU relations, accession criteria, accession negotiations, accession to the European Union, economic situation, political situation

22.6.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 178/149

Wednesday 4 October 2000

9. Bulgaria

A5-0241/2000

European Parliament resolution on Bulgaria’s application for membership of the European Union,
and the state of negotiations (COM(1999) 501 ( C5-0024/2000 ( 1997/2179(COS))

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to Bulgaria’s application for membership of

the European Union, submitted on

15 December 1995, pursuant to Article 49 of the EU Treaty,

(cid:1) having regard to the opinion of the Commission on this application (COM(1997) 2008 (cid:1) C4-0380/

1997),

(cid:1) having regard to the 1999 Regular Report on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession (COM(1999) 501
(cid:1) C5-0024/2000) and the 1999 Composite Paper of the Commission (COM(1999) 500 (cid:1) C5-0341/
2000),

(cid:1) having regard to the decisions taken by the European Council, notably in Copenhagen on 21/22 June

1993, in Luxembourg on 12/13 December 1997, and in Helsinki on 10/11 December 1999,

(cid:1) having regard to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States,

of the one part and Bulgaria, of the other part, which entered into force in February 1995,

(cid:1) having regard to the 1999 Accession Partnership for Bulgaria,

(cid:1) having regard to its resolution of 3 December 1998 (1) on Bulgaria’s application for membership of

the European Union,

(cid:1) having regard to the accession negotiations with Bulgaria, which opened on 15 February 2000,

(cid:1) having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

(cid:1) having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security

and Defence Policy (A5-0241/2000),

A. whereas the European Union is founded on the principles of liberty, respect for human rights, funda-

mental freedoms and the rule of law;

B. whereas Bulgaria has democratic institutions whose stability now seems secure, and whereas it is gen-
erally agreed that it has fulfilled the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council,

C. whereas a stable democratic order is now well established and efforts are being made to entrench the

rule of law, respect for human rights and the protection of minorities,

D. whereas Bulgaria has made efforts to meet its obligations under the Europe Agreement and has imple-
mented the main requirements without major problems; whereas, however, there is a weakness in the
national co-ordination mechanism and in the public administration, and whereas these areas must be
significantly strengthened if EU legislation is to be successfully transposed,

E. whereas the judiciary and media are independent of the executive branch; whereas such independence

must be guaranteed; whereas there are plans to set up the office of National Ombudsman,

F. whereas continuing efforts are needed to eradicate suspicions of corruption in public administration;
recognising that the Bulgarian government is taking resolute measures to tackle this problem but high-
lighting the need for a coherent strategy so that these steps can be implemented with vigour, trans-
parency and effectiveness,

(1) OJ C 398, 21.12.1998, p. 55.

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G. whereas the government has set up the National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues a body

dealing specifically with minorities,

H. whereas a number of gaps still remain with regard to the integration of minorities and whereas addi-

tional financial resources need to be allocated,

I.

recognising Bulgaria’s aspirations to serve as a model for stability in south-eastern Europe, and
acknowledging Bulgaria’s positive contribution during the Kosovo crisis and its continuing efforts as
well as its work on furthering cooperation in south eastern Europe,

J. whereas Bulgaria still faces numerous environmental challenges, in particular with regard to air, water
and soil pollution; whereas Bulgaria recently signed an agreement with the Commission to progres-
sively shut down certain units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant,

K. welcoming Bulgaria’s plans to put into practice energy efficiency projects,

L.

recognising and welcoming the enthusiasm of the Bulgarian Government and people for future mem-
bership of the European Union,

General

1.
Strongly endorses the decision of the Helsinki European Council to open negotiations on 15 February
2000 for the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union and confirms its support for Bulgaria’s applica-
tion; stresses at the same time its view that there should not be a pre-ordained order for accession and that
each candidate country should be considered on its own merits;

2.
Considers that Bulgaria is an important element in regional stability and recognises its efforts to
establish itself as a pillar of security and cooperation in south eastern Europe; appreciates the sacrifices
made by Bulgaria, during the Kosovo crisis and subsequently; believes that the efforts made by Bulgaria
in implementing the embargo on Yugoslavia with the consequent heavy economic repercussions should be
duly taken into account in the evaluation of its progress; stresses that in strengthening border controls, due
account should be taken of regional trade relations and the need to develop regional cooperation and
cross-border projects in the framework of the Stability Pact;

3. Welcomes the agreement between Bulgaria and Romania on the construction of a new bridge over
the Danube and urges the Commission to give the necessary support to the restoration of the navigability
of the Danube;

Political criteria

4.
Congratulates the present Bulgarian Government on its achievements in the pre-accession process,
which have been particularly remarkable since 1997; recognises that there is a clear consensus in the
Bulgarian National Assembly in favour of EU accession and NATO membership;

5.
Concurs with the Commission’s view in its 1999 Regular Report that, while fulfilling the Copenha-
gen political criteria, Bulgaria needs to make further efforts to strengthen the rule of law and to improve
the situation of minorities, particularly the Roma population, where recent government decisions need to
be followed up by concrete measures and better targeted programmes in which the international commu-
nity will have a role to play;

6.
Calls upon the Bulgarian authorities to closely involve Roma communities and local authorities in the
design and implementation of national integration programmes as well as to provide for successful imple-
mentation of these programmes by establishing the appropriate structures and institutions;

7.
Stresses the need for a coherent strategy to reinforce the Government’s efforts to tackle corruption
and calls on the Member States and the Commission to assist in the improvement of administrative capa-
city and judicial reform in Bulgaria with appropriate technical assistance programmes;

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Economic criteria

8.
Notes that Bulgaria has continued to make progress towards establishing a viable social market econ-
omy but that further steps are needed to put Bulgaria in a strong position to cope with competitive pres-
sure and market forces within the European Union while enhancing social and economic cohesion; under-
lines the fact that the existence of a representative and autonomous social dialogue constitutes an
indispensable element of accession preparations, and urges the Bulgarian Government to associate closely
the social partners and NGOs in the economic and social policy-making process;

9.
Recognises that, in an economy in transition, the process of restructuring and privatisation of state
monopolies will present continuing challenges for Bulgaria; considers that this process must be conducted
with greater transparency;

‘Acquis’ Criteria

Is fully aware of the challenges presented by environmental deterioration in Bulgaria and the costs
10.
of rehabilitation, and calls for exploration of all funding possibilities by Commission, Council and Parlia-
ment, as environmental problems have far-reaching consequences for health, agricultural sustainability and
the economy;

Emphasises that, while Bulgaria has taken steps to improve arms trade controls, it has not yet

11.
adopted needed reforms to its arms trade law;

12.
Recognises the progress in nuclear safety measures that has been made to date and, notes with
pleasure the agreement that was finally signed by Bulgaria and the European Commission on the progres-
sive closure of the older and less technologically advanced units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant;
urges Bulgaria to honour the commitments given;

Urges Bulgaria to develop its energy sector on the basis of energy efficiency and competitiveness,
13.
taking into account the principles of the internal energy market, environmental considerations and security
of supply, as well as export potential;

Other

Notes widespread support across the European Union for Bulgaria’s removal from the list of coun-

14.
tries requiring a visa for travel into EU Member States;

Urges Member States to enhance their assistance to the improvement of Bulgaria’s national police

15.
and customs services and for the Commission to target further resources into this area;

16.
Requests the Commission to provide Parliament with a detailed and comprehensive breakdown of
all recent funding to Bulgaria at the earliest possible opportunity, along with an assessment of the contri-
bution of its assistance programmes to the achievement of substantive economic and administrative pro-
gress in Bulgaria;

Strongly recommends that the EU assist Bulgaria in making the most rapid progress possible

17.
towards accession; recognises the difficulties of an evolving acquis;

Calls on the French Presidency, through the Council, to open as many as possible of the negotiating

18.
chapters so as to prevent any delays in the accession process for Bulgaria;

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Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the parliaments of

19.
the Member States, and the Bulgarian Government and Parliament.