Activites

• 2003/12/04 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0548/2003 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the issues at stake at the European Council to be held in Brussels on 12-13 December. On economic growth, Parliament ssupported the view that the European Union is at a critical point in its development after prolonged economic stagnation and a high level of unemployment. It regretted that in such a situation the EU is not able to speak and to act on the basis of a common strategy. Parliament expressed its concern about the decisions taken by the ECOFIN Council on 25 November 2003 concerning the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact, and stated that stability is a public good which has to be defended and that economic growth leads to more stability. Economic policies should continue to be aimed at producing job-creating and sustainable growth. Whilst welcoming the European Growth Initiative, members felt that boosting investments in key projects cannot solve either the immediate or the long-term problems facing the European economy. This requires a reorientation of budgetary allocations in order to support more effective Europe-wide investment. It is essential for the success of the European Growth Initiative to focus on projects that are sustainable, economically and financially viable, entail a high level of co financing and have a clear European value. Parliament insisted that, alongside the TENs and R&D projects, the European Council and Member States should also agree to raise investment in human capital across the European economy and reallocate resources to skills and lifelong learning measures. Investment in human capital must be given the highest priority in order to attain the Lisbon goals. On the issue of freedom and security, Parliament noted that only three Member States (Denmark, Spain and Portugal) have transposed the European Arrest Warrant, and urged the others to do so. It deplored the failure of EU leaders and the Council Presidency to discuss the rights of the Guantßnamo detainees to a fair trial. The European Council and the Presidency must raise this matter at the highest level with the US administration. Parliament also regretted the failure to reach agreement on a common European asylum policy and make progress in implementing a comprehensive European immigration policy. Migration issues must be integrated into the Union's relations with third countries. Stabilisation programmes, in the form of positive economic and trade-related measures, can be an incentive for countries of origin and transit to guarantee compliance with voluntary return agreements. On enlargement, Parliament noted the great progress made by the 10 acceding countries in adopting the acquis, but said that more remains to be done, in particular if the new Member States are to benefit fully from EU subsidies and exporting food products. It urged the Council to keep the door open for Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU in 2007 if the accession criteria have been met, while underlining that this will depend on real progress on the ground. Parliament called on the Council to play its role in promoting the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem. It hoped the elections in the northern part of Cyprus on 14 December would help move forward the peace process based on the UN Secretary General's plan. On foreign affairs, Members made special reference to the situations in Turkey and Iraq. In the aftermath of the terrible bomb attacks in Turkey, Parliament expressed its condolences to all the families of the dead and injured, and expected theCouncil to maintain and foster its engagement in Turkey in order to express the full solidarity of the EU. It went on to express its deep concern at the situation in Iraq and regarded the proposals made by the US Administration and the Provisional Council for a clear timetable for transferring sovereignty to Iraqi representatives as a first positive step. The Council must adopt a common position, stressing EU initiatives. Following the Madrid Donors' Conference on Iraq, Parliament called on the Council and Commission to provide full and public access to information on all activities funded with European Union taxpayers' money through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility and/or the EU budget. Parliament moved on to underline that an EU security strategy can be developed only on the basis of multilateralism and within the UN system. It is sure of the great contribution that such a strategy, based on a global context going beyond the strictly military dimension and ensuring the deployment of a whole package of political, economic, social and military measures, can make in preventing and resolving conflicts. Parliament welcomed the establishment of an EU Agency for Defence and asked the Council to advance the setting-up of a credible European defence identity, including a European collective capacity for planning and command of EU operations, able to act autonomously of NATO, yet not undermining the alliance or unnecessarily duplicating structures. Parliament also called for the full implementation of the EU Action Plan against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with a focus on universalising key disarmament and non-proliferation treaties, enhancing the EU's support for agencies in charge of verification and strengthening EU arms export control policies. All the present and future EU states must accede to the Convention prohibiting anti-personnel mines. Finally, Parliament stated that after the IGC, the Commission should engage the US and Canadian governments in a joint review of transatlantic relations, with a view to establishing a Transatlantic Partnership Agreement by 2007.�

Documents

• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0548/2003

History

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