A3-0008/94

Resolution on the environmental aspects of the enlargement of the Community to include Sweden, Austria, Finland and Norway

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Collins and others on the consideration of discrepancies between environmental standards of the EC and Sweden, Austria, Finland and Norway (B3-1153/93),

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to its earlier resolutions and in particular to its resolutions of 27 May 1993 on European Community initiatives against the announced resumption of whaling by Norway and Japan and 15 July 1993 on enlargement,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A3-0008/94),

A.whereas on 2 May 1992 the four EFTA countries in question signed the agreement on the European Economic Area with the European Community and its Member States,

B.whereas each of the four countries have applied for membership of the Community,

C.whereas the current negotiations with the four applicant countries have run into difficulties in the field of the environment,

D.whereas these difficulties have arisen mainly because the applicant countries have environmental standards in many fields guaranteeing a higher level of protection than that which applies in the Community,

E.whereas in the course of the negotiations the applicant countries expressed the wish to maintain their high level of environmental protection after accession,

F.whereas the Community stated at the outset of the negotiations that the applicant countries would be required to accept the "acquis communautaire" in its entirety,

1.Considers that the applicant countries' request to be allowed to maintain their high level of environmental protection after accession is a legitimate concern which should be duly taken into account by the Community authorities;

2.Considers that the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations and the required consent of the people of the applicant countries to the results of these negotiations largely depends on finding a satisfactory solution to the question of the difference where it exists between Community environmental standards and those of the applicant countries;

3.Notes that the "acquis communautaire" entails rights and obligations for all Member States in a single market without internal borders;

4.Welcomes the recent agreement with the applicant countries on the question of environmental standards, granting a four-year transitional period during which the Community will review the "acquis communautaire" taking into account the latest scientific evidence and in particular the higher environmental standards of all the applicant countries;

5.Stresses that the applicant countries will in the near future be making a significant contribution to improving existing Community legislation in the environmental field;

6.Welcomes the fact that solutions were found at the ministerial-level negotiations on 21 December 1993 which will enable the applicant countries to retain their existing environmental standards in those specific cases where the "acquis communautaire" requires less stringent environmental standards;

7.Requests the Commission and Council in this connection to do everything in their power to begin work as soon as possible aimed at revising the "acquis communautaire" with a view to harmonizing environmental standards at a higher level;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States and applicant countries.