24 Amendments of Richard HOWITT related to 2007/2271(INI)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, whilst previous enlargements have undoubtedly been a success both for the European Union and for the Member States which joined it, this is no guarantee that such accelerated pace can be sustained further,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas this strategy cannot therefore be reduced tois more than a simple negotiating methodology butand should involve a thorough debate on the Union's objectives, covering both the Union's own future and its role in the neighbourhood and on the international scene,
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Union's Enlargement Strategy should be part of a more diversifiednot be mixed with an indeterminate array of external relations policies, reconciling the Union's geo- strategic interests with our neighbours' diverse expectations,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas these policies EU Enlargement Strategy should encompass the variety of situations prevailing in our neighbourhood, notably in those countries which have candidate status and have started negotiations – such as Croatia and Turkey – , those which have candidate status but have not yet started negotiations, those which have membership prospects – such as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – , those which have membership prospects – the remaining Western Balkan countries – , those which have a European integration goal – such as Ukraine or Moldova – and those which merely wish to have close neighbourly ties with the Union,
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas, as stated in its above- mentioned resolution of 13 December 2006, countries with European prospects should benefit from a close bilateral or multilateral relationship with the EU, matching their specific needs and interests; whereas this option, which entails a broad spectrum of operational possibilities, would grant partner countries a stable, long-term perspective of institutionalised relations with the EU and provide, and providing the incentive necessary to foster stability, peace and democratic and economic reform in the countries concerned,
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas these policies EU Enlargement Strategy needs also to be effectively explained and communicated to othe current EU citizens as well as to all future citizens so as to ensure public support for the Union's commitments towards its neighbours, thus guaranteeing the Union's credibility as partner,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reaffirms its firm commitment to the countries with which it has started membership negotiations – such as Croatia and Turkey – and to the countries which have been given clear membership prospects – such as the Western Balkan countries – , with the understanding that full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and compatibility with the Union's integration capacity must be fulfilled before these countries can join the Union;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that the Union's Enlargement Strategy should strikefirst and foremost fulfil the requirements of the EU Treaty and commitments already entered into by the Union, as well as striking a balance between the Union's geo-strategic interests, the impact of political developments outside its borders together with the resulting expectations of its neighbouring countries, and the Union's integration capacity, including its ability to cope with future internal and external challenges and to realise its political integration project;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that integration capacity reflects the Union's ability at a given point in time to decide and thus to achieve its political objectives, in particular the aim of promoting economic and social progress and a high level of employment in its Member States, of asserting its identity and its ability to act on the international scene, of promoting the rights and interests of Member States' nationals, of developing an area of freedom, security and justice, of fully maintaining and building on its acquis communautaire and of upholding fundamental rights and freedoms, as laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as underlined by the Commission's above-mentioned communication entitled "Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2007-2008", full attention should be paid to the EU's integration capacity at key stages of the accession process;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls, furthermore, that the economic structure and interests of each new Member State could have an impact on the direction which the Union's policies and budget take and could therefore affect the nature of the Union itself, but that past enlargements show the mutual economic benefit of enlargement to existing and new Member States;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Therefore takes the view that every enlargement must be followed by adequate consolidation and political concentration, that is to say, by a serious reassessment of the Union's policies and means in order to ensure consensus around such policies and to focus on objectives which responding to the expectations of ourEU citizens and which guaranteeing the viability of the Union as a political project;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Warns, therefore, that further enlargement without adequate consolidation could lead toInsists that enlargement must be accompanied by adequate consolidation in order to prevent the establishment of a Union of multiple configurations, with core countries moving towards closer integration and others lying at its margins, and that this scenario would have seriously detrimental implications for the Union's capacity to act – since it would weaken its institutions, for the stability of some of its Member States – since it would make them more vulnerable to external pressure, and for its credibility as global actor – since it would undermine its already precarious unity in external affairs;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes, moreover, that further enlargements should be accompanied by a concerted communication policy involving all EU Institutions and Member States' Governments as well as representatives of civil society, designed to explain to our citizens the political, economic and social benefits of enlargement, social and cultural benefits of enlargement; therefore reminds the governments and parliaments of the Member States that it is their responsibility adequately to inform public opinion about the positive achievements of former enlargements, the status quo of the ongoing negotiations and the matters at stake in further enlargements;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Takes the view that the gap existing between the Union's Enlargement Strategy and itshas to be distinguished from the European Neighbourhood Policy needs to be filled in order to respond to the expectations of our eastern neighbours; is convinced that the Commission's strengthened n should maximise its efforts to further strengthen the European Neighbourhood pPolicy is not sufficient in this respect, althoughas it represents an already positive step in the right direction, andbut that a more substantive qualitative change is required;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Suggests, therefore, that, as regBelieves that the policies already existing within the framework of the ENP towards those eastern neighbours which, in view of their political, economic and social situation and of the Union's current integration capacity, at present do not enjoy membership prospects but at the same time fulfil certain democratic and economic conditions, the Union should establish an area based on common policies covering, in particular, economic and financial issues, trade, energy, transport, environmental issues, the rule of law, justice, security, migration and education; takes the view that these common policies, whilst striving gradually to achieve EU standards and opening the way for closer integration of these countries, should be shaped jointly with the participating countries on the basis of specific decision-making mechanisms, and should be underpinned by adequate financial assistanceshould be shaped jointly with the participating countries on the basis of specific decision-making mechanisms, and should be underpinned by adequate financial assistance; underlines that the policies of the ENP involve common policies concerning economic and financial issues, trade, energy, transport, environmental issues, the rule of law, justice, security, migration and education;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes in this respect the re-launch, within the framework of the EU, of the "Barcelona Process: A Union for the Mediterranean" as a further positive step in our relations with theour southern neighbours; believes that this new development strengthens the argument in favour of specific contractual multilateral relations with our eastern neighbours, which, compared to their southern partners, have clear European ambitions and perspectives; recalls that, as a first step,recalls that the re-launch of these relations shcould translate themselves into tha future establishment of a Free Trade Area, to be followed by closer relations along the lines of a European Economic Area Plus (EEA +), of a European Commonwealth orand of specific regional cooperation frameworks, for example in the Black Sea area;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes in this context the Commission Communication on the Western Balkans of 5 March 2008 (COM(2008)0127), which outlines a range of measures for supporting the countries in the region in their efforts towards EU integration and for deepening our relations with them, whether in the areas of trade, energy, education and/or research; believes that such measures should include also finalisation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement wi, including the Serbia and calls on all Member States to overcome their reservations in this respecttabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Furthermore, urges the Commission to come up with concrete proposals for a more diversified external relations policy towards our neighbours, along the lines outlined in the present resolution, and to reconsider its own administrative structures in order to establish a structural lRecalls the administrative structures of the Commission, differentiatinkg between the activities carried out by the Enlargement and the RELEX Directorates- General;