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RELEASE
17 November 2004 Contact: Chris Davies 0044 7787 504516
ROMANIA "NOT YET READY" TO JOIN EU Negotiations on the requirements for Romaniaâs accession to the European Union will NOT be completed before the countryâs General Election on November 28, the European Commission has said. Work is still needed to demonstrate that Romania will be able to comply with EU law in three remaining areas, the most important being the Justice and Home Affairs âchapterâ. Negotiators are due to meet again on Wednesday, November 24, but concern has been expressed that the European Commission would risk being accused of interference in Romaniaâs elections were it to indicate then that the outstanding issues had been resolved. Any announcement of this kind might be used to suggest an endorsement for the Romanian Government, it has been claimed, despite the Commission having made clear in its strategy paper of October 6 that it had deep reservations about continuing corruption in the country, about threats to the free press, and about laws being passed but not implemented. Today (November 17) EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen made clear to MEPs meeting in the European Parliament at Strasbourg that concerns remained and that the outstanding issues would not be resolved by November 24. He said: "This meeting was scheduled a year ago and the Commission was not aware that it would coincide with a General Election campaign. The negotiations will not be completed on this date." Commissioner Verheugenâs remarks were made at a meeting with MEPs Graham Watson, leader of the Democrats and Liberals for Europe group in the European Parliament, Baroness Emma Nicholson, the Parliamentâs former rapporteur on Romania, and Chris Davies, leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs. The Commissioner, who will shortly be leaving his position to take up the EU industry portfolio in Brussels, stressed that closure of this stage of negotiations would in any case not mean that Romania was ready to join the European Union. He told the MEPs that serious problems had yet to be resolved and there was much to do. Pressure for change and reform would be maintained by the European Commission over the next two or even three years, and final approval by EU governments and the European Parliament could not be guaranteed. Speaking after the meeting, MEP Chris Davies said that the Commissioner had explained that the extent of corruption and law enforcement problems in Romania were greater than in any other country that had applied for EU membership. Mr Davies commented: "The European Union has been a success story in helping to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law. If Romania is to join the EU it is essential that measures intended to bring about reform and progress are properly implemented and put into practice." Mircea
Halaciuga,Esq.
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EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Oana Gheorghiu - tel/fax: 252.8681 / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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