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The report on Romania's progress towards EU
membership, adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday by
64 votes to 8 with 5 abstentions, is "encouraging but demanding;
demanding, but friendly", in the words of rapporteur Pierre
MOSCOVICI (PES, FR). MEPs welcome the important steps taken by
Romania but they stress that much still needs to be done,
particularly on reform of the administration, the judicial system,
the fight against corruption and the protection of minorities and
children.
Swift completion to negotiations urged
The committee wants to see negotiations concluded
rapidly - "by the end of 2004" - while nevertheless
emphasising that "artificially early chapter closure will harm
rather than help Romania and her people". It nevertheless hopes
Romania will be in a position to sign the accession treaty in 2005,
so it can enter into force on 1 January 2007. The committee points
out that Romania "will be subject to the same provisions as
Bulgaria and the new Member States and therefore will be made
subject to specific safeguard clauses in the event of serious
shortcomings".
MEPs draw Romania's attention to the fact that,
like Bulgaria, it could be made subject to a specific safeguard
mechanism if the Commission believes there is a "serious risk
that Romania is not in a position to meet the commitments that
accession entails". The Commission could then recommend that the
Council decide to "delay its accession by one year". This
would require a unanimous vote by the Council. They add, in this
connection, that "Romania's accession must be based on merit and
performance".
Justice, corruption, discrimination: "could
do better"
The Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledges, as the
Commission did in its report in October, that Romania meets the
Copenhagen political criteria and has strengthened the stability of
its institutions, thereby guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law
and human rights. However it points to the need "for further
reforms in the spheres of justice and public administration and
greater efforts to combat corruption".
The committee congratulates Romania on the progress
it has made on administrative and judicial reform and on the launch
of a strategy to reform its public administration. It therefore
urges Romania to press ahead swiftly with these reforms "as a
priority", with specific emphasis on adequate remuneration for
civil servants, promotion on the basis of merit and improved
management and training. On the judicial front, it voices disquiet
at recent official surveys showing that the executive continues to
influence the outcome of judicial proceedings and it renews its call
"for the judicial system to be made more independent and
professional".
The report also notes that corruption is still
"a major source of concern". In this connection, MEPs "are
alarmed" at the fact that very few corruption trials in Romania
are successful. In addition they underline the importance of
reforming the national police force, improving border controls,
laying down national rules on the protection of children and
combating discrimination against the Roma minority, which they say
is still "very widespread". On this point, they urge the
Romanian Government to expand its action in this area and give
priority to education.
On the subject of bringing national laws into line
with Community legislation, the report states that Romania has
"achieved a satisfactory degree of alignment in the vast majority
of areas" and that, if it continues to advance at the current
rate, it will have "every prospect of completing the requisite
legislative transposition before the scheduled accession date".
However, MEPs stress that "improvements in the field of
legislation and the adoption of action plans are not enough".
Mechanisms for the implementation and monitoring of the enforcement
of legislation are needed, to enable progress to be assessed.
30.11.2004 Committee on Foreign
Affairs
In the chair:
Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, DE)
Procedure: Own-initiative
report
Plenary vote: December, Strasbourg
Press enquiries:
Jo�lle Fiss - tel. (32-2) 28
41075
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | 
