WRITTEN QUESTION E-2741/03 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. Croatia.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Croatia, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, forced migration, protection of minorities, return migration

C 88 E/438

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0443)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2741/03

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Croatia

When it considers Croatia’s application for accession to the European Union, will the Commission look at
the situation in Krajina as regards the return to their homes of the population driven out by the Croatian
army in 1995? Does it consider that the possibility for displaced persons to return home and the treatment
of minorities are matters that falls under the Copenhagen criteria for membership of the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2003)

When it considers Croatia’s application for accession to the Union the Commission will review the extent
of compliance of Croatia with the criteria laid down in Articles 49 and 6 of the Treaty establishing the
European Union and further enshrined in the conclusions of the European Council of Copenhagen (1993).
According to the latter (‘Copenhagen criteria’) a prospective member must: (i) be a stable democracy,
respecting human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of minorities; (ii) have a functioning market
economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union; (iii)
adopt the common rules, standards and policies that make up the body of Community law.

Therefore the review of the process of refugee return in Croatia, and the treatment of minorities will be
crucial to assessing the Government’s fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria, on the basis of which the
Commission will make its recommendation to the Council on whether or not
to open accession
negotiations with Croatia in spring 2004.

(2004/C 88 E/0444)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2796/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Uncertainties regarding the need for financial compensation by national authorities for regional

projects no longer receiving EU regional funding after 2006

Can the Commission confirm that, with regard to the EU Structural Funds, in the near future a

1.
choice will have to be made between two options:

(a) a preference on the part of the current beneficiary regions for strong growth, in order to be able both

to preserve the existing grants and to pay for major projects in new Member States, and

(b) a preference on the part of some Member States for stabilising the current level of expenditure and, in
future, assigning priority in projects to solidarity and internal EU development aid for the most
disadvantaged regions in the present and future Member States with the lowest per capita Gross
National Product?

2.
Is the Commission aware that in the Netherlands, pending the decision between these options, a
difference of opinion is arising between the north-eastern provinces, which expect to be able to continue
to draw on the Structural Funds after 2006, and the government, which considers it probable and desirable
that such regions in more affluent Member States will
then no longer be eligible for aid? Is the
Commission aware whether there are other regions in the EU where uncertainty about the amount of
funding available from the Structural Funds and its mode of deployment after 2006 is giving rise to such
differences of opinion and problems in the preparation of projects?