The European Parliament adopted a resolution by 497 in favour, 93 against and 71 abstentions on Romania’s application to become a member of the European Union. The rapporteur was Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR). (Please see the summary of 30/03/05.) Parliament praised reforms introduced in Romania and the invaluable role played since 1990 by non-governmental organisations and other civil society actors in the process of democratisation, the fight against corruption, the protection of the freedom of the press and the drive for an independent judiciary. It also commended the substantial improvement in economic performance and the establishment of a functioning market economy thanks to important structural changes.

Parliament felt however, that further consolidation of macroeconomic stability is required if Romania is to be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. It asked the Romanian authorities to continue their efforts to curb the budget deficit and encouraged them to press ahead with the process of privatisation and restructuring, particularly in the steel sector.

Parliament went on to discuss some of the matters of concern identified in the Commission’s latest progress report and emphasised the effective implementation of administrative and judicial reforms. It noted that also that, whilst the industrial policy of Romania is stable and to some extent predictable, Romania’s administrative capacity is deficient. Equally urgent is the need to eliminate structural obstacles to investment, such as excessive bureaucracy and an unstable legislative environment.

Members expressed concern about the long transition periods agreed in the negotiations regarding the environment chapter and called on the Commission and the Romanian authorities to take measures in order to substantially improve administrative capacity in the environmental field.

Parliament will continue to follow closely the process which will lead to Romania's accession in January 2007 and asked the Commission to keep it regularly informed of the extent to which the Romanian authorities honour the commitments given in the accession treaty, particularly as regards the fight against corruption, the environment, the field of justice and home affairs and competition.

Finally, Parliament stressed that it approved the accession treaty on condition that the Council and the Commission fully involve it in the decision-making in the event that the safeguard clauses contained in the accession treaty were to be used in the context of Romania's accession.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution by 497 in favour, 93 against and 71 abstentions on Romania’s application to become a member of the European Union. The rapporteur was Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR). (Please see the summary of 30/03/05.) Parliament praised reforms introduced in Romania and the invaluable role played since 1990 by non-governmental organisations and other civil society actors in the process of democratisation, the fight against corruption, the protection of the freedom of the press and the drive for an independent judiciary. It also commended the substantial improvement in economic performance and the establishment of a functioning market economy thanks to important structural changes.

Parliament felt however, that further consolidation of macroeconomic stability is required if Romania is to be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. It asked the Romanian authorities to continue their efforts to curb the budget deficit and encouraged them to press ahead with the process of privatisation and restructuring, particularly in the steel sector.

Parliament went on to discuss some of the matters of concern identified in the Commission’s latest progress report and emphasised the effective implementation of administrative and judicial reforms. It noted that also that, whilst the industrial policy of Romania is stable and to some extent predictable, Romania’s administrative capacity is deficient. Equally urgent is the need to eliminate structural obstacles to investment, such as excessive bureaucracy and an unstable legislative environment.

Members expressed concern about the long transition periods agreed in the negotiations regarding the environment chapter and called on the Commission and the Romanian authorities to take measures in order to substantially improve administrative capacity in the environmental field.

Parliament will continue to follow closely the process which will lead to Romania's accession in January 2007 and asked the Commission to keep it regularly informed of the extent to which the Romanian authorities honour the commitments given in the accession treaty, particularly as regards the fight against corruption, the environment, the field of justice and home affairs and competition.

Finally, Parliament stressed that it approved the accession treaty on condition that the Council and the Commission fully involve it in the decision-making in the event that the safeguard clauses contained in the accession treaty were to be used in the context of Romania's accession.

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR) on Romania 's application to become a member of the EU. The report praised the reforms introduced in Romania and further commitments made by the newly installed government, such as on increasing freedom of the press, improvements in schools and participation in the 'Decade of Roma Inclusion', but it also drew attention to serious shortcomings which needed to be addressed. These included the need for effective implementation of administrative and judicial reforms, the need to continue the fight against corruption, especially at a high level, the eradication of all violence and discrimination against minority groups, improving the treatment of psychiatric patients, more efficient border controls, correct application of state aid laws and strengthening environmental protection.

MEPs said that they would closely monitor Romania 's accession process and called on the Commission to keep Parliament regularly informed of the extent to which the Romanian authorities honoured their commitments. They also pointed out that, if the safeguard clauses were to be invoked, such action should not be seen as a sanction, bur rather as a mechanism intended to give Romania the time required to prepare for joining the internal market "without shocks either for itself or for Community policies".

Lastly, the report called on the Romanian authorities and NGOs to launch a public information campaign on the advantages and obligations arising from accession. The Commission was also urged to set aside appropriate funding for information campaigns in order to improve public understanding of the implications of Romania 's accession.