Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR)
Report on Romania's progress towards accession
Doc.: A6-0061/2004
Procedure
: Own-initiative
Debate : 15.12.2004
Parliament will debate an own-initiative report on
Romania's progress towards EU membership, drawn up by Pierre
MOSCOVICI (PES, FR) for the Foreign Affairs Committee. The
rapporteur describes the report as "encouraging but demanding;
demanding, but friendly." MEPs in the committee 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 report calls for negotiations to be 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 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 in the committee 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 report 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".
MEPs in the committee congratulate Romania on the
progress it has made on administrative and judicial reform and on
the launch of a strategy to reform its public administration. They
urge 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, they voice disquiet
at recent official surveys showing that the executive continues to
influence the outcome of judicial proceedings and it renews their
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, the
committee members say they "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, it stresses 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. |
