RESOLUTION A3-0364/92

Resolution on economic and trade relations between the EC and the Baltic States

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Moorhouse and Mrs Peijs on cooperation agreements between the European Community and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (B3-1651/91),

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Alber and others on the European Community's relations with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (B3-0057/92),

- having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on External Economic Relations (A3-0364/92),

A. whereas the Community is making every effort to assist all the republics of the former Soviet Union and, in particular, the Baltic States,

B. mindful of the fact that the break-up of the Soviet Union and COMECON and the dislocation caused to the Baltic States by the break up of the existing order is having direct economic and financial repercussions on the economies of the Baltic States,

C. aware that the Baltic States are three separate countries with different problems and requirements,

D. whereas the dependence of the Baltic States on the former USSR is very high and even vital in some economic sectors,

E. whereas the lack of energy supplies and the consequent dependence of the Baltic States on the former USSR creates special difficulties,

F. whereas the economic difficulties and political problems in these States are closely linked and any improvement in the situation in these countries must come from progress in both these areas,

G. mindful of the efforts being made by the Baltic States to privatize their economies and re-introduce a market economy,

H. whereas these efforts are not producing the desired results in the short term,

I. accepting with regret that the downside of the reform policy is an increase in unemployment and a marked reduction in people's purchasing power,

J. whereas the programme for transition to a market economy includes the liberalization of foreign trade,

K. whereas economic and trade relations between the Community and the Baltic States are continuing to develop but have not yet by any means reached their full potential,

L. whereas national and ethnic problems are having serious political, social and economic repercussions in the Baltic States,

M. whereas independence for these states entails equilibrium in their political, economic and commercial relations with Scandinavia, the EC and the former USSR,

N. whereas the economies of these countries are more in competition with one another than complementary to each other,

1. Welcomes the conclusion of trade and cooperation agreements between the Community and each of the Baltic States;

2. Welcomes the inclusion of these countries in the PHARE programme;

3. Calls for Community support to the Baltic States to be concentrated in particular on:

- involvement in triangular operations in the context of aid to the former Soviet Union, inter alia by allowing the resale of imported cereals in the form of cattle fodder,

- supplying drugs and medical equipment,

- making available technical equipment to be used in environmental protection programmes;

- training of civil servants and economic operators by means of a transfer of expertise to the Baltic States;

4. Calls for urgent environmental measures to be taken in these countries, with particular regard to:

- military property,

- the production of energy from oil shale and by the two RBMK nuclear power stations situated in Lithuania,

- food production and the agri-foodstuffs industry;

5. Considers that the environmental problems in the Baltic zone must be solved on a regional scale, associating the three Baltic Republics, the republics of the former USSR, the Community and EFTA countries;

6. Considers that the creation of new industries in the Baltic Republics will imply important environmental measures in the Baltic zone;

7. Is conscious of the common dependence of the Member States of the Community and the Baltic States on energy supplies and asks the Commission to study whether common solutions to this energy dependence could be found for the mutual interest both of the Community and the Baltic States;

8. Hopes that the Baltic area will become a focal point for economic growth, bringing together the Scandinavian countries, the Community and the Baltic States and that the Commission will assist in developing plans specifically designed to achieve this aim;

9. Supports the Baltic States' call for all remaining 'foreign' troops to be withdrawn from the area;

10. Is concerned by the increased inter-ethnic tensions in the Baltic States and considers that all efforts should be made in order to ensure peaceful co-existence and development of all ethnic components present in the Baltic States;

11. Considers that the principles contained in the citizenship law enacted by Estonia and in the resolution on citizenship adopted by Latvia risk exacerbating ethnic tensions, both within the Baltic States and in the former Soviet Union, and could cause, if implemented in a restrictive way, infringements of basic minority rights, as embodied in the CSCE Paris Charter;

12. Is also concerned by the reciprocity provisions contained in the Lithuanian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners of 4 September 1991;

13. Considers that, after the conclusion of the cooperation agreements, the Commission should monitor carefully future developments and, where the need arises, act swiftly in the context of the human rights clause contained in the agreements;

14. Asks the Commission to keep it regularly informed on the situation of human and minority rights in the Baltic States;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the governments of the Member States and the Baltic States.