RESOLUTION B3-1727, 1728 and 1736/92

Resolution on the conclusions of the European Council meeting in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December 1992

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the conclusions of the European Council in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December 1992,

A. having regard to the deteriorating economic situation, the increasing number of unemployed in the Community (16 million) and the monetary and financial instability which are threatening political and social cohesion,

B. whereas, since 1985, the citizens of Europe have been waiting for the completion of the single market symbolized by the elimination of physical frontiers in the Community leading to freedom of movement,

C. whereas the Treaty on European Union must be rapidly ratified if the problems facing the Community are to be solved,

D. recalling its previous resolutions, in which it has repeatedly called upon the governments of the Member States to fix a single seat for the institutions, in accordance with Article 216 of the EEC Treaty,

1. Considers that the determination of a number of Member States to press ahead with the construction of European Union has enabled the Community to emerge from a period of stagnation lasting a number of months, take a series of decisions unblocking the situation and allow the Member States to complete the ratification process and overcome a number of difficulties, and has helped to restore confidence in the construction of Europe;

2. Considers, however, that the results of the European Council need to be carefully evaluated and notes that it has exceeded its remit to provide guidelines and to act as a moving force to compensate for the failure of the Council to take action over the last few months, and has thereby jeopardized the institutional balance and strengthened the intergovernmental aspects;

3. Recalls that most of the conclusions will have to be implemented by means of Community procedures in which each institution, including the European Parliament, is given a specific role to play;

Treaty on European Union

4. Insists that the ratification procedure be concluded by 30 June 1993; calls on the United Kingdom to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible and considers that, if necessary, those Member States that have declared themselves in favour should press ahead with the construction of Europe;

5. Considers that the decision and declarations on Denmark and the Treaty on European Union will enable a second Danish referendum to be held; welcomes the fact that the arrangements reached with Denmark do not involve any renegotiation of the Treaty; deplores the fact, however, that the derogation clauses agreed with Denmark contain no time limit, which entails the risk that Denmark might become entrenched in a negative stance so that any further progress becomes impossible;

6. Expresses the hope that the Danish people will seize the opportunity offered them to ratify the Treaty and participate fully in the European Union;

Accession of new Member States to the Union

7. Welcomes the fact that the 'conditions of admission' for future members 'will be based on acceptance in full of the Treaty on European Union and the 'acquis'', which means that the derogations granted to Denmark cannot be extended to other members;

8. Accepts the timetable for negotiations with the applicant countries and recalls that the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union is one of the conditions for the conclusion of negotiations, and that any enlargement must necessarily be accompanied by a 'deepening', failing which Parliament will not give its assent;

Economic recovery

9. Notes the measures proposed to relaunch the economy of the Community but deeply regrets that employment is not even mentioned as one of the economic policy objectives;

10. Considers that in view of the current situation in the Community the economic recovery plan for the countries of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean must be more far-reaching and seek primarily to achieve growth and boost employment;

11. Calls for the Commission to use its influence to implement the measures proposed, in particular the creation of the European investment fund as a matter of urgency;

12. Considers that the uncertainty affecting the currency and financial markets must be eliminated by improving the coordination of the economic and monetary policies of the Member States of the Community;

13. Calls on the Commission and Council to use all the political, economic and diplomatic means at their disposal to combat currency speculators who seek to undermine the EMS;

Financing of the Community and the Delors II Package

14. Notes the conclusions of the European Council as regards the future funding of the Community and its proposals on the annual financial perspective; considers that these might be examined in detail to serve as a basis for a possible interinstitutional agreement; instructs its relevant committee to draw up a report on the appropriateness of the financial resources to the aims of the Treaty;

Internal market

15. Condemns the maintenance of internal border controls in the Community beyond 1 January 1993 which constitutes an infringement of Article 8a of the EC Treaty and is alarmed that this may undermine the Community's credibility among its own citizens; regrets the present imbalance between freedom of movement of persons and goods;

16. Calls on the Commission to use all the means at its disposal to ensure that the Treaty is respected by all Member States;

Democracy, transparency and subsidiarity

17. With regard to subsidiarity, notes with satisfaction that the procedure for the application of Article 3b is to be the subject of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission and reaffirms its wish that the procedure adopted should not involve any imbalance in or slowing down of the Community's decision-making process; confirms the mandate of its delegation to the interinstitutional conference for the negotiation of an agreement on democracy, transparency and subsidiarity;

18. Regrets the inadequacy of progress as regards democracy and insists that the Council must undertake not to adopt any legislative act rejected by the European Parliament;

19. Notes the more open approach as regards transparency, which represents progress but falls short of the essential public access as regards the Council's legislative activities; deplores the continuing requirement of unanimity to decide public access, although the Council's internal rules of procedure are adopted by a simple majority;

20. Insists that votes by the Member States and possible justifications of these votes in the Council should be made public;

21. Recalls that the reexamination or withdrawal of regulations or directives will be subject to Parliament's approval as part of the legislative process,

Membership of European Parliament

22. Welcomes the fact that the European Council has approved Parliament's proposals as regards the adaptation of the number of seats for Members to past and future changes in the composition of the Community;

23. Hopes that the Council will adopt in good time for the 1994 elections a uniform electoral procedure in accordance with Parliament's proposals;

Seats of the institutions and bodies

24. Expresses its astonishment that the European Council has taken a decision purporting to settle in detail locations for all the European Parliament's various activities, without even consulting Parliament itself;

25. Declares that any decision which permanently splits the European Parliament's activities between three different Member States conflicts with the Treaties, notably Articles 5, 142 and 216 of the EEC Treaty, and is contrary to the inherent right of a Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage to determine its own working methods so as to carry out its tasks in the most effective manner;

26. Considers that the decision on its seat may not impinge on its powers to run its own affairs in accordance with the Treaties and the case law of the Court of Justice; does not therefore consider itself bound by measures which would be contrary to the Treaties;

27. Condemns the absence of decisions on the seats of the other bodies, notably the Environmental Agency and the European Monetary Institute: in respect of the latter the European Council meeting in Maastricht had pledged to take a decision before the end of 1992;

External relations

28. Backs the Council in its desire to adopt a firm stance on the policies pursued by the present Serbian leaders and calls on the Member States to play an active role in strengthening sanctions and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 786;

29. Agrees with the Council that priority must be given to political means in resolving the crisis in Yugoslavia, but that in view of the gravity of the situation, new initiatives by the international community may be necessary; welcomes the desire by the Council and Member States to play an active role in this process;

30. Calls on the Council to take all the political initiatives needed to bring about rapid military intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina in order to end the siege and the military aggression;

31. Joins the Council in vigorously condemning the acts of unspeakable brutality committed against the Muslim community in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of 'ethnic cleansing' and condemns in particular the systematic rape of women; insists that all the detention camps and, in particular, the camps reserved for women, should be closed immediately and that all possible aid be granted to the victims;

32. Stresses the need for the Member States to take a formal and binding decision to accept refugees from the former Yugoslavia, especially those held in concentration camps and who cannot leave them because they have no destination abroad;

33. Supports the Council's proposal to create safe areas for the civilian population and to despatch the necessary humanitarian aid by every means possible;

34. Considers that the Council must now call on the United Nations Security Council as a matter of urgency to decide to implement the earlier proposals and to gather together the means, including military means, required to implement these decisions effectively;

35. Considers that insufficient stress has been laid on the need for freedom of expression to be safeguarded throughout the territory of the former Yugoslavia and, in particular, during the election campaign, in Serbia and Kosovo, where the Albanian-language press must not be muzzled;

36. Welcomes the interest taken by the Council in the role of Iran in the Middle East, in particular the threat its overarmament may pose to regional stability; calls in this connection on the Twelve to appeal to the UN Security Council to take all necessary preventive measures to avoid a new war in the region; stresses the need for a more vigorous common policy to control arms exports and sales;

37. Demands that the Community and the Member States continue and intensify their efforts in favour of the people of Somalia and insists that all Member States play an active role in humanitarian aid operations organized by the United Nations; demands that the Council do everything within its power to facilitate a political settlement to this conflict;

38. Notes with satisfaction that the European Council fully supports UN Security Council Resolution 794 and its implementation by the international community, but deplores the fact that it did not formulate concrete initiatives to ensure that the implementation of this resolution encourages national reconciliation and rehabilitation in Somalia; calls on the Council to formulate proposals for a reconciliation conference and a rehabilitation programme for Somalia;

39. Calls on the Council to strengthen its common policy in favour of the process of democratization in a number of African countries and to pursue a firm common policy towards those African countries where the human rights situation is still very alarming;

40. Insists on the continuing need for great vigilance and firmness vis-à-vis South Africa where international pressure will be necessary as long as apartheid has not actually been dismantled;

41. Expresses its concern at the way in which the replacement of the Prime Minister of Russia occurred;

42. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States.