WRITTEN QUESTION E-3808/02 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Council. Enlargement of the EU to include the Balkan and Caucasus countries.
Date: 2003-01-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Caucasus countries, Western Balkans, accession criteria, democracy, economic stabilisation, enlargement of the Union, human rights, pre-accession strategy, rule of law, transitional period (EU)

18.9.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/109

The current three- and six-year periods for reporting provided for under the nature and biodiversity acquis
reflect consensus at the time of the adoption of each instrument as to what period of reporting is
appropriate and feasible. Consequently,
it may be questionable whether and to what extent annual
reporting on nature and biodiversity is appropriate and feasible, and the extent to which consensus exists
on this issue among the Member States and Community institutions.

The issues of monitoring and indicators underpin reporting and there is considerable ongoing work on
these issues. In particular, the EEA is preparing for the Commission a set of biodiversity indicators against
which to monitor progress under the Biodiversity Action Plans. It might be feasible to identify a sub-set of
these for which data might be collected and analysed on an annual basis. The EEA (with its European
Topic Centre) has also contracted the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC)
to review
monitoring methods for nature conservation. The Commission, EEA (with its ETC), UK Joint Nature
Conservation Committee, ECNC and United Nations Environment Programme (cid:1) Regional Office for
Europe (UNEP-ROE) are active in other related initiatives including: monitoring for Natura 2000 sites;
monitoring and assessment of conservation status in relation to Community nature directives; an
international working group on monitoring and indicators (Bio-MIN); a European Biodiversity Monitoring
and Indicator Framework (EBMI-F); the development of agri-environment indicators (under the IRENA
project) and the development of indicators (including on nature and biodiversity) for the monitoring of
rural development programmes. The Commission expects to continue to seek support from the EEA and
suitably qualified contractors such as ECNC on these issues.

In conclusion, the Commission believes that, while it is appropriate and feasible to report annually on
selected aspects of those issues identified in the Resolution point 13, it is not at this time appropriate or
feasible to produce an annual report which comprehensively addresses those issues. However,
the
Commission would be pleased to review the extent to which these issues are adequately covered by
existing reporting, the extent to which it may be appropriate and feasible to address any gap, and the
extent to which rates of change in biodiversity, rates of progress on programmes and projects and the
availability of data merit annual reporting. This review would take into account ongoing work on
monitoring and indicators which might provide a suitable basis for selective annual reporting on nature
and biodiversity. The Commission suggests that the forthcoming review of the Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plans provides a most appropriate vehicle within which to conduct this review of reporting on
nature and biodiversity.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (cid:1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979 and
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (cid:1)
OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 222 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3808/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Council

(7 January 2003)

Subject: Enlargement of the EU to include the Balkan and Caucasus countries

The Heads of State of Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Albania and Bosnia sent a joint letter to the EU
authorities calling on the European Union to give a clear, concrete response, at the Copenhagen Summit,
to their efforts to join the European Union. The Presidents of these five countries wrote: ‘We wish to make
known our expectation that the final document of the Copenhagen Summit will contain a reference to the
proposals regarding accession of our countries in the form of a message of strong encouragement to
continue along our path towards membership of the EU (…). While being fully aware of the hard work
that lies ahead of us in order to arrive at this goal, we are convinced that our common objective will work
in favour of the achievement of our noble aim (cid:1) the unification of Europe. (…) The prospect of our
accession to the European Union is of major importance to deepening the ongoing process of democratic
reform and to strengthening stability in the region’.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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18.9.2003

At the same time more than 300 parliamentarians from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Georgia,
Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM) and Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) had already signed an appeal to the
Convention, the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament in which they request the status of
candidate countries for membership of the European Union. The 311 parliamentarians, who welcome the
‘historic event’ represented by the enlargement to include 10 central European countries, say that they
continue, although working ‘hard and amidst a thousand difficulties to establish freedom, democracy and
the rule of law, to be kept on the margin of Europe and to be excluded from the real process of European
unification’. They conclude by saying: ‘We know that the membership of each of our countries will depend
on its ability to meet fully the political criteria known as the Copenhagen criteria and the economic criteria
set out in the Treaties and the acquis communautaire. We are not asking for any preferential treatment,
any privileges, any favours (cid:1) only to be allowed to work towards achieving this fundamental objective’.

What concrete political steps does the Council intend to take in order to give a practical response to the
wish of these countries to rejoin the European family and finally to realise their legitimate aspiration to
become members of the European Union? Is the Council aware that without the clear prospect of
membership of the EU, the efforts being made by these countries to strengthen democracy and the rule of
law and promote strong economic development may prove vain, opening the way to instability or to even
more serious scenarios? Does the Council
intend to decide to include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bosnia, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM), Moldavia and Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) on
the list of candidate countries for membership of the European Union at the next meeting of the Heads of
State and Government, in Greece?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

As the Honourable Member is certainly aware, potential membership of the EU is based on Article 49 of
the Treaty on European Union, which stipulates that any European State which respects the principles set
out in Article 6(1) of that Treaty may apply to become a member of the Union. It shall address its
application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after
receiving the assent of the European Parliament. The said Article 6(1) underlines the principles of liberty,
democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Consequently, the
Council will examine any application for membership in accordance with Article 49 TEU.

As for the Western Balkan countries referred to by the Honourable Member (Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as Serbia and Montenegro), their
European perspective (‘potential candidates for EU membership’) was already confirmed at the Zagreb
Summit between the EU and those countries in November 2000, based on the conclusions of the
European Council in Feira on 19 and 20 June 2000, and reiterated since.

The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), including its strategic objectives, its economic and political
conditions and its instruments, are at the heart of the EU’s policy towards the Western Balkans. The
Zagreb Summit on 24 November 2000 set the seal on the SAP by gaining the region’s agreement to its
objectives and conditions. The Council underlines that the SAP is a long-term policy approach in support
of sustainable and EU-compatible reform, as it helps the countries of the region prepare for integration
with the EU. The speed with which each country moves through the different stages of the SAP, taking
ownership of the process, depends on its increasing ability to take on the obligations flowing from an ever
closer association with the EU as well as compliance with the conditionality policy defined by the Council
on 29 April 1997.

As to the ‘practical response’ of the Council ‘to the wish of these countries to rejoin the European family’,
as enquired by the Honourable Member, the instruments of the SAP are threefold. Firstly, EC assistance
under the CARDS Regulation, focusing increasingly on support for reforms and institution building as
required by the Stabilisation and Association Agreements. Secondly, preparation and implementation of
Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA), which represent the cornerstone of the process. The
conclusion of these Agreements represents the signatories’ commitment to complete, over a transitional
period, a formal association with the EU. Such association is based on the gradual implementation of a
free-trade area and on reforms designed notably to achieve the adoption of either the acquis commun-
autaire in a limited number of areas or of EU standards, thus allowing the countries of the region to begin
the process of integration into EU structures. Differences between individual agreements are likely to be
reflected principally in the transition period towards full association with the EU and in the precise phasing
and articulation of obligations. But the destination for all countries is expected to be the same: the full
realisation achievement of association after a transitional period through implementation of the same core

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obligations. Such agreements have already been concluded with the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia and with Croatia. On 21 October 2002 the Council authorised the Commission to open
negotiations on a SAA with Albania. Thirdly, the granting, since December 2000, of a highly preferential
trade regime to all the countries covered by the SAP. The opening of EU markets to nearly all products
from the SAP countries, subject to compliance with relevant SAP conditions,
is intended to promote
foreign investment, develop export capacities and contribute to the overall political and economic stability
of the region.

The Council is reviewing annually the progress achieved by each country within the SAP, most recently on
13 May 2002.

The European Council in Copenhagen on 12/13 December 2002 recalled the membership criteria defined
at the Copenhagen European Council
in June 1993 and reaffirmed the European perspective of the
countries of the Western Balkans in the stabilisation and association process as stipulated by the European
Council in Feira; it also underlined its determination to support their efforts to move closer to the EU. The
European Council therefore welcomed the decision by the incoming Greek Presidency to organise a
Summit on 21 June in Thessaloniki between EU Member States and countries of the stabilisation and
association process.

The European Union is playing a prominent role in the reconstruction of Kosovo. The European Union is,
by far, the largest single donor providing assistance to Kosovo and the South-East European region as a
whole and is at the forefront of the reconstruction effort.

Concerning the countries of the Southern Caucasus referred to by the Honourable Member (Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia) and Moldova, the EU and its Member States are linked to these countries through
Partnership and Cooperation Agreements. The EU is committed to contributing to the rule of law,
economic reform, peace, security and stability in these countries. The Partnership and Cooperation
Agreements need to be implemented fully and effectively, as continued development of democracy and
human rights is crucial as a factor in promoting stability in the Southern Caucasus region. Concerning
Moldova, consolidation of democracy and internal political stability, solution to the Transniestrian conflict,
determined progress in economic reforms and good relations with neighbouring countries would improve
Moldova’s chances of benefiting from close relations with the future enlarged EU. The Copenhagen
European Council underlined that the EU wishes to enhance its relations inter alia with Moldova, based on
a long-term approach promoting democratic and economic reforms, sustainable development and trade,
and is developing new initiatives for this purpose. It should be added that none of the countries in
question has applied for membership. Furthermore, the Council is not in a position to speculate about the
decision to be taken by the European Council at one of its future meetings.

In conclusion, the Honourable Member’s attention is again drawn to the conclusions of the Copenhagen
European Council, stressing that the ongoing enlargement will bring a new dynamism to European
integration. The European Council underlined that this presents an important opportunity to take forward
relations with neighbouring countries based on shared political and economic values and stressed that the
Union remains determined to avoid new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity
within and beyond the new borders of the Union.

(2003/C 222 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3815/02

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Council

(9 January 2003)

Subject: State of affairs regarding the ratification of the Montreal Convention for the unification of certain

rules for international carriage by air

The Member States signed the Montreal Convention for the unification of certain rules for international
carriage by air on 28 May 1999, and the Council announced that the Community would deposit the 15
ratification instruments together by the end of 2002 in order to avoid any discrepancy between Member
States.