Activites

• #2469
• 2002/11/28 Council Meeting
  • 2469
• 2002/11/07 Final act published in Official Journal
• #2444
• 2002/07/12 Council Meeting
• 2002/07/04 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0365/2002 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Seville on 21-22 June. Members welcomed the start being made on the opening up of the legilsative procedures of the Council to the press and public, but regretted that only the initial stage of the codecision procedures form part of the opening up. It also pointed to the fact that Parliament has not been mentioned in connection with the new multi-annual strategic programme of the European Council. On enlargement, Parliament stressed that the EU's support for strengthening administrative and judicial capacity in the candidate countries must be continued at both central and local levels to guarantee effective implementation of the acquis. On Justice and Home Affairs, the European Parliament called for the establishment of a common immigration policy, which should introduce a legal way of entering the EU, taking into account demographic and labour-market requirements in the Member States. It welcomed the balanced approach taken at Seville with regard to relations with third countries. This approach underlines the role of economic cooperation, trade expansion, development assistance and conflict prevention as a means of reducing migratory pressure. Any future measures taken by the EU against non-cooperating third countries should not jeopardise development objectives. Moving on to internal policies, Member States are asked to be more ambitious regarding their economic reforms. Parliament should be more involved in the development and implementation of the EU's major economic policy guidelines. Parliament expressed the hope that the establishment of a Competitiveness Council will contribute to the development of an enterprise policy for industry which strikes a balance between the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Turning to the Middle East, Parliament took note of the statement by President George W. Bush. It recalled that President Arafat was democratically elected and reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to decide for themselves on their leadership. It condemned all acts of terrorism against the Israeli people, the use of excessive military force against the Palestinian people and extrajudicial executions. An end to the occupation and the early establishment of a democratic and viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders are the conditions most likely to ensure Israel's right to security. On South Asia, Parliament asked Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups operating from the territory under its control and to stop infiltration across the line of control. India is asked to take further steps to create a situation which would achieve a solution to the problem through bilateral negotiations. The EU could, thanks to its own historic background, act as a facilitator for contacts between the two countries in order to get them round the negotiating table. It is important to hold, free, fair and inclusive elections in Jammu and Kashmir.�

Documents

• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0365/2002
• Debate in Council: 2469

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)