European Parliament resolution on Lithuania's application for membership of the European Union and the state of negotiations (COM(2000) 707 - C5-0607/2000 - 1997/2178(COS))
Date: 2001-09-05
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Community acquis, Lithuania, accession criteria, accession negotiations, accession to the European Union, economic policy, political integration, pre-accession strategy

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28.
Emphasises that EU animal welfare legislation must be properly supported by adequate controls at
national and EU level if enlargement to include Latvia is not to result in a deterioration in the EU(cid:146)s animal
welfare record;

Encourages the participation of Latvia in the Community(cid:146)s new health action programme launched

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in 2000;

Calls on the Commission to address the EU information strategy on Enlargement also towards the

30.
specific needs and concerns of non-citizens in Latvia;

31.
Deplores the Member States(cid:146) and the Commission(cid:146)s rejection of Parliament(cid:146)s request for better
insight into the negotiations; considers this rejection illogical and damaging to the spirit of cooperation
between the institutions;

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

32.
the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Latvia.

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10. State of accession negotiations with Lithuania

A5-0253/2001

European Parliament resolution on Lithuania(cid:146)s application for membership of the European Union
and the state of negotiations (COM(2000) 707 (cid:129) C5-0607/2000 (cid:129) 1997/2178(COS))

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to Lithuania(cid:146)s application for membership of the European Union, submitted on

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

(cid:129) having regard to the 2000 Regular Report from the Commission on Lithuania(cid:146)s progress towards

accession (COM(2000) 707 (cid:129) C5-0607/2000),

(cid:129) having regard to the 2000 Enlargement Strategy Paper on progress towards accession by each of the

candidate countries presented by the Commission (COM(2000) 700),

(cid:129) having regard to the decisions taken by the European Council, notably at Copenhagen (21/22 June
1993), Helsinki (10/11 December 1999), Nice (7-9 December 2000) and Gothenburg (15/16 June
2001),

(cid:129) having regard to the Accession Partnership for Lithuania concluded in 1999,

(cid:129) having regard to its resolution of 4 October 2000 on Lithuania(cid:146)s membership application to the
(COM(1999) 507 (cid:129) C5-0030/2000 (cid:129) 1997/

European Union and the state of negotiations
2178(COS)) (1),

(cid:129) having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

(cid:129) having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security

and Defence Policy and the opinions of the other committees concerned (A5-0253/2001),

A. mindful of the absolute necessity to make a success of the EU enlargement process,

B.

convinced that this presupposes openness, frankness and respect for agreed rules and principles, on
the part of the EU institutions and the Member States as well as on the part of the candidate countries,

(1) OJ C 178, 22.6.2001, p. 135.

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C.

convinced, also, that when the most difficult final phase of the negotiations is entered into, all actors
must refrain from making unreasonable demands; expecting that they let, instead, their actions show
that their commitment to the project of mending the fractures that tragic developments in the past
inflicted on our continent is beyond any doubt,

D. whereas Parliament has made important contributions to the shaping of the principles and policies
that are now guiding the enlargement process; whereas these principles and policies have proven their
worth,

E. whereas the principle of full differentiation within the negotiation process, according to which each
country must be judged on its own merits, implies that a real chance to catch up must be given to
those countries, including Lithuania, with which negotiations were not opened until last year,

F. whereas Lithuania continues to make good progress in its preparations for EU membership,

G. whereas this has allowed its negotiations to proceed at a steady pace, but a number of problems and

weaknesses still call for stronger action,

Fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria

Political criteria

Recognises that Lithuania clearly satisfies the political criteria for EU membership; notes that ethnic
1.
minorities(cid:146) rights are well protected; points out that there is nevertheless a need to improve the functioning
of certain institutions and to guarantee more effectively that certain rights are always observed;

2.
Encourages Lithuania to intensify its efforts to reform the police and conclude the reform of the
judiciary; draws attention to the need to radically cut pre-trial detention periods and to ensure that deten-
tion is not used when not fully motivated; considers that measures to improve prison conditions should be
a top priority;

3. Welcomes the recent appointments of an ombudsperson for equal opportunities and an ombudsper-
son for children; hopes that their activities will help to improve women(cid:146)s participation in the society,
family life and upbringing and further strengthen respect for women(cid:146)s and children(cid:146)s rights;

4.
Repeats its call for greater efforts to combat the phenomenon of trafficking in women for sexual
exploitation from Lithuania to EU countries and elsewhere; notes that a national programme is now under
preparation; considers this to be a responsibility also for the EU and the countries of destination; maintains
the view that victims should be guaranteed protection, health care, and legal and psychological assistance;

Calls upon the Lithuanian Government to eliminate provisions in the penal code that discriminate
5.
against homosexual men and lesbian women notably Article 122, a provision that is declared contrary to
the European Convention on Human Rights by the European Commission of Human Rights;

Notes that while corruption affecting the formation of laws, rules, regulations and decrees appears to
6.
be relatively low, administrative corruption is a problem; welcomes the resolution on Ethic Principles for
State Politicians and Civil Servants by the Lithuanian Parliament and encourages Lithuania to step up the
fight against corruption both by ensuring that competent authorities have adequate resources to detect and
resolve cases and by striving to improve remuneration, increase training and strengthen professional ethics
within the civil service;

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Economic criteria

7.
Supports the Commission(cid:146)s and the Association Council(cid:146)s conclusion that Lithuania is a functioning
market economy and should be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the
Union in the medium term, provided that reforms continue;

Is encouraged by the ever stronger performance of the Lithuanian economy; notes the very positive
including exports, government deficit and current account

8.
trends in most macro-economic indicators,
balance; welcomes the fact that Lithuania has become a member of the World Trade Organisation;

9.
Considers that an ever more solid basis for long-term growth is now emerging and that this radically
strengthens the prospects for Lithuania(cid:146)s capacity both to address its great investment needs and to ensure
increased prosperity for the whole of its population;

10. Welcomes the ratification of the European Social Charter by the Lithuanian Parliament; is con-
cerned, however, about the increasing unemployment; notes that this phenomenon to a great extent is a
result of structural change; is convinced that while having this immediate effect, structural change also
leads to improved efficiency and greater competitiveness and that this should result in the creation of
new jobs at an accelerating pace;

11.
Believes that slowing down the economic reform process would in a longer term only exacerbate
the unemployment problem; considers, however, that while sustaining its economic reform efforts, the
state must also be fully committed to assisting the unemployed, improving the provision of retraining
and of social protection, fighting poverty and safeguarding social cohesion, in accordance with the Euro-
pean social model; is aware of the tight constraints implied in the need not to put macro-economic
stability at risk, but encourages Lithuania to further develop its policies in these regards;

Notes the adoption of the Agriculture and Rural Development Plan and is convinced of the rel-
12.
evance of the many specific objectives and actions included therein; believes, however, that additional
consideration could be given to the question how Lithuanian agriculture shall acquire its own profile and
gain a competitive edge on the EU market;

13.
Recommends that the regulatory framework and enforcement capacity governing land property,
land tenancy and land use be improved, particularly as regards the forest privatisation process, so as not
to jeopardise the safeguarding of the high natural values of the countryside, and to promote the use of
natural resources in line with the principles of sustainability and the objectives of integrated rural devel-
opment;

14.
Believes that there is a pressing need to increase awareness at the local level and among individual
farmers of challenges and opportunities now emerging; draws attention to the important role that farmers(cid:146)
organisations can play in this context; calls on the Commission to ensure that there will be no further
delay in the launch of the Phare project specifically aimed at strengthening such organisations in candidate
countries;

15.

Notes, with regard to land reform, that the process of returning land has virtually been completed;

Notes Lithuania(cid:146)s intention to switch from the current US-dollar peg of its currency, the litas, to a

16.
euro-peg in the beginning of 2002;

(cid:145)Acquis(cid:146) criteria

17.
Notes the detailed overview and assessment included in the Commission(cid:146)s 2000 Regular Report;
notes, also, that Lithuania considers this report to be objective; recognises that Lithuania since its pub-
lication has made further progress in its alignment with the acquis, including in the areas of social policy,
energy, and industry (promotion of competitiveness);

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Considers that both candidate countries and Member States will need transition periods in certain

18.
areas;

Calls also for cross-sector social dialogue and the introduction of collective agreements, compliance

19.
with which is to be monitored by employees(cid:146) representatives;

The Pre-Accession Strategy

20.
Calls on Lithuania and the Commission to finalise the preparations for the launch of the Sapard
programme for agriculture and rural development with all speed; is pleased that the Phare programme
appears to operate well; notes that planning for ISPA projects continues;

Encourages the Lithuanian Government to speed up the identification of sites for and development

21.
of pilot agri-environment schemes under its national Rural Development Programme;

Notes with satisfaction the participation of Lithuania in a considerable number of Community pro-

22.
grammes;

The negotiations and crucial issues in view of Parliament(cid:146)s assent to Lithuania(cid:146)s accession

23.
Is convinced that the steady pace at which the membership negotiations are proceeding reflects the
quality of Lithuania(cid:146)s membership preparations; is pleased to note that catch up is taking place; strongly
hopes that Lithuania will be able to keep up its good record when it comes to honouring commitments
made in the negotiations;

24. Welcomes and strongly supports the road map for the conclusion of the negotiations prepared by
the Commission and endorsed by the Nice European Council; notes with satisfaction that progress so far is
in line with it;

Recommends Lithuania to pay particular attention to the energy and agricultural sectors, as well as

25.
to its administrative capacity in a number of areas, in its continued preparations for EU membership;

Encourages the participation of Lithuania in the Community(cid:146)s new Health Action programme com-

26.
mencing 2000;

Other major issues and recommendations

27. Welcomes signs that Lithuania may take a decision on the closure date for unit 2 at the Ignalina
nuclear power plant well before the end of 2004, which is the limit for this decision according to its
National Energy Strategy; calls on the Lithuanian Government and Parliament to intensify preparations
for the full closure of the Ignalina NPP in order to make possible the fulfilment of its commitments; calls
on the Member States to enhance bilateral assistance in the framework of the international fund for the
closure of INPP; asks for an increase of EU funds to help facilitate the closure of INPP;

28.
Is aware that Lithuania will become more dependent on existing fossil fuel power plants, of which
many are very polluting; considers that in order to limit the increase in this dependence, Lithuania should
endeavour to exploit its great potential for energy savings; considers that taxing and pricing policies should
be adapted to this objective;

Stresses the need for a national and regional comprehensive strategic plan for restructuring of the
29.
region around the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, based on an in-depth dialogue with the inhabitants of the
region;

Encourages the European Investment Bank to study how investments to raise energy efficiency and

30.
produce energy in an environmentally friendly way can be further facilitated;

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31.
Believes that Lithuania may also be in a good position to promote alternative solutions, such as a
more extensive biomass exploitation including biofuel production, the creation of new co-generation
plants and the increase of gas use in the energy mix after undertaking the necessary feasibility studies,
and that this might contribute in a limited, yet valuable way, to energy supply and also to rural devel-
opment;

32.
Considers that, because of the similarity between the challenges that EU candidate and non-candi-
date countries in the region face in certain areas, possibilities to develop regional cooperation in these
areas should be examined;

33.
Emphasises Lithuania(cid:146)s right to determine its own security policy independently and welcomes
Lithuania(cid:146)s efforts to integrate across the range of Euro-Atlantic security structures as a step towards reduc-
ing the different security zones in Europe;

34.
Points out that, following enlargement, Kaliningrad will become an enclave within the European
Union with a considerably lower standard of living than adjoining areas; welcomes in that regard the fact
that Russia has given Kaliningrad special economic status, which may mean the possibility of greater
economic growth in the region; notes with satisfaction that Lithuania continues to play a constructive
role in efforts to enhance cooperation with Russia in relation to the Kaliningrad oblast, but stresses that
the EU(cid:146)s involvement in dialogue with Russia must be strengthened, particularly to ensure the possibility of
free movement between Kaliningrad and Russia, and between Kaliningrad and adjoining EU countries,
including within the framework of Schengen cooperation;

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

35.
the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Lithuania.

11. State of accession negotiations with Poland

A5-0254/2001

European Parliament resolution on Poland(cid:146)s application for membership of the European Union
and the state of negotiations (COM(2000) 709 (cid:129) C5-0609/2000 (cid:129) 1997/2174(COS))

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to Poland(cid:146)s application for membership of the European Union submitted on 5 April

1994 pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union,

(cid:129) having regard to the 2000 Regular Report from the Commission on Poland(cid:146)s progress towards acces-

sion (COM(2000) 709 (cid:129) C5-0609/2000),

(cid:129) having regard to the Enlargement Strategy Paper on progress towards accession by each of the candi-

date countries presented by the Commission (COM(2000) 700),

(cid:129) having regard to the decisions taken by the European Council, notably at Copenhagen (21/22 June
1993), Luxembourg (12/13 December 1997), Helsinki (10/11 December 1999), Nice (7-9 December
2000) and Gothenburg (15/16 June 2001),

(cid:129) having regard to the Accession Partnership with Poland concluded in 1999,

(cid:129) having regard to its resolution of 4 October 2000 on Poland(cid:146)s application for membership of the

European Union and the state of negotiations (1),

(1) OJ C 178, 22.6.2001, p. 138.