B3-0663, 0680 and 0683/93

Resolution on conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council concerning relations with Central and Eastern Europe

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its resolutions of 18 April 1991 on association agreements with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, 10 September 1991 on industrial and infrastructure investments in Poland, its decisions of 11 March 1992 on the significance of the trade and cooperation agreement between the European Economic Community and Albania, 16 September 1992 on the conclusion of an association agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Hungary and on the conclusion of an association agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Poland, its resolution of 17 September 1992 on economic and trade relations between the European Community and Poland, its opinions of 17 September 1992 on the Commission proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Albania on trade and commercial and economic cooperation, 12 February 1993 on the Commission proposal for a Council decision on the conclus

ion by the European Economic Community of the Interim Agreement between the European Economic Community and the European Coal and Steel Community, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, on trade and trade-related matters, its resolutions on relations between the European Community and Bulgaria, on relations between the European Community and Romania, on economic and trade relations between the European Community and Bulgaria, its opinion on the Commission proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion by the European Economic Community of the Interim Agreement between the European Economic Community and the European Coal and Steel Community, of the one part, and Bulgaria, of the other part, on trade and trade-related matters and its resolution on economic and trade relations between the European Community and Romania of 23 April 1993,

-having regard to the report by the Commission to the Council entitled 'Towards a closer association with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe' (SEC(92)2301),

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

-having regard to the replies of the Commission and Council to its oral questions,

A.whereas, since the collapse of the Eastern bloc and the USSR significant progress has been achieved towards democracy and the establishment of a market economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, especially in the Visegrad countries,

B.stressing the major importance of the success of this process of reform to the West and the Community in particular, and the disastrous repercussions which would result if it were to fail,

C.whereas the policy of stabilization has had positive results in most of the countries of Eastern Europe; whereas, however, the privatization of the economy and the introduction of the legal framework and decision-making mechanisms peculiar to a market economy have not made enough progress to attract large foreign investment,

D.deeply concerned at the rapid growth of unemployment and the steep fall in living standards experienced by many people in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which could be a threat to the process of economic and political reform,

E.whereas a regular multilateral political dialogue is being established between the Community and the Visegrad countries,

F.whereas East-West trade has increased significantly since 1990, although it has not yet achieved its potential volume, which would enable the countries of Eastern Europe to obtain the hard currencies to meet the huge restructuring and investment needs they are faced with,

G.having regard to the vital role played by international aid, in particular the PHARE programme, in the process of transition to a market economy in Eastern Europe,

H.stressing that respect for human rights and democratic freedoms constitutes the essential basis of cooperation between the Community and these countries,

I.concerned at the growing economic recession in many Member States and the absolute need to ensure the long-term success of the Single Market,

J.whereas a second communication 'Towards a closer association with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe' has been submitted by the Commission to the Copenhagen European Council,

K.whereas the Edinburgh European Council concluded that at its meeting in Copenhagen in June 1993 it would reach decisions on the various components of the Commission's report in order to prepare the associate countries for accession to the Union,

1.Considers that the European Council in Edinburgh formally confirmed the final objective of accession to the European Union by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which have signed European association agreements and that all accession applications must be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and in the light of, on the one hand, the internal situation in the Community, which would enable it to be enlarged without the disruption of its normal operation, and, on the other hand, the political, economic, social and human rights situation in the applicant country;

2.Emphasizes the need for a structured relationship between the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Institutions of the Union; is of the opinion that political dialogue with these countries should be intensified and that this dialogue should have a multilateral character;

3.Is therefore of the opinion that the establishment of the European Political Area, as proposed by the Commission, should be supported;

4.Calls on the parliaments of the Member States to ratify the association agreements signed so far as soon as possible; stresses in this regard that the full implementation of these agreements is an essential condition for the success of the reforms and the modernization of their economies;

5.Encourages countries which have signed European agreements to continue their participation in regional cooperation initiatives, with Community support where appropriate;

6.Would like proposals to improve transport, telecommunications, the environment and energy exchanges between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which are signatories to the Association Agreements to be submitted as a matter of urgency; insists that technical and financial cooperation with these should be made more effective and respond better to the changing requirements of the beneficiary countries, in particular, to make progress in industrial conversion possible;

7.Recognizes that the Community Member States are in deep recession, but is convinced that the Community could open up its markets to most industrial products from these countries more rapidly than envisaged;

8.Believes however that for a limited range of sensitive products, the rate of penetration of Community markets should be controlled to facilitate structural adjustments which are socially and politically acceptable to the Community;

9.Notes that with regard to trade in agricultural products, specific rules have been agreed with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, affording them limited access to EC markets despite their substantial production potential in this sector; hopes that at all events as part of the reform of the CAP or through specific supplementary negotiations taking into account the mutual situation in agricultural policy, access to the Community's agricultural markets will be improved so as to benefit the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;

10.Considers that trade as provided for in the association agreements could be better balanced and that foreign investment in these countries could be made a more attractive proposition by means of the multilateral accumulation of rules on origin including all trading partners in the large Europe-wide market, notably the Community, EFTA and all the countries of Eastern Europe;

11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the governments of the Member States and the governments and parliaments of the States of Central and Eastern Europe.