A3-0304/94

Resolution on Sweden's application for accession to the European Union

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Barón Crespo and others on the progress of accession negotiations with Sweden (B3-ll34/93),

-having regard to the request for accession submitted by Sweden on 1 July 1991 and the Commission's opinion of 31 July 1992,

-having regard to the report by the Presidency of the Council of 9 March 1994 on the outcome of the negotiations for the accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on this subject, in particular those of 15 July 1993 on enlargement, 17 November 1993 on the negotiations concerning enlargement of the Union to include Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway, 15 December 1993 on the conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 10 and 11 December 1993, and 9 February 1994 on the state of enlargement negotiations with Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway,

-having regard to the agreement reached in the negotiations concerning Sweden's accession to the European Union,

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

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security and the opinions of the committees concerned (A3-0304/94),

A.convinced that Sweden's application for accession to the European Union is an acknowledgement of the Community's role over the past years as a uniting force and its efforts to tackle the challenges of our time,

B.whereas Sweden's decision to accede to the European Union was made after the divisions within Europe had been overcome, but has been further reinforced over the past two years as part of a wider vision of the concept of security and of the new problems threatening stability in Europe, and whereas it was this view that led Sweden to recognize the need for a common policy and the vital role of the European Union,

C.whereas it is even more significant that Sweden is determined to enter a Union which, under the Maastricht Treaty, has decided to work towards EMU and, more importantly, to provide for a common foreign and security policy which may lead to a common defence policy,

D.convinced that Sweden's entry into the Union is of great historical importance; whereas the present enlargement, which includes the other three applicant countries, represents a step forward in the construction of Europe in that it:

- will further stabilize the whole European continent,

- will consolidate the Union's economic role,

-will increase awareness of and commitment to social, environmental and consumer protection problems,

-will give greater strength in terms of quality and quantity to the efforts to tackle the problems of economic reconstruction in eastern and central European countries and those of cooperation with the developing countries,

E.whereas the accession of Sweden and the other two Scandinavian countries will inevitably change the geo-political balance of the Union, but whereas this must not weaken cohesion or the overall view of the interests of the Union as a whole,

F.aware of the mainly positive outcome of the negotiations, which have allowed an overall agreement to be reached which, except in a few sectors for which Sweden will be given a transitional period, will allow this country to be rapidly integrated into the Union's institutions and policies,

G.welcoming the commitment of Sweden and the other applicant countries to full and active participation in the common foreign and security policy as defined in Title V of the TEU, and the assurance that, after accession, the legal framework of the acceding countries will be compatible with the 'acquis' of the Union in this area,

H.whereas a highly contentious agreement has been reached at the eleventh hour on a key institutional issue; whereas that agreement:

-is subject to varying interpretations and therefore opens the way to possible disputes within the Council, thus bringing still greater confusion to the decision-making procedure;

-alters the modus operandi of the Council, in spite of the fact that Parliament has not been consulted or given the opportunity to deliver a formal opinion,

I.noting that, owing to disagreements within the Council and the resulting delay in drawing up the Accession Treaty, the Treaty has been forwarded to Parliament only three weeks before the last part-session at which Parliament will be able to give its assent,

1.Welcomes the fact that considerable agreement has been reached between the Swedish authorities and the Member States; welcomes the speed with which that agreement was reached with the Swedish authorities and stresses the determination and European spirit with which Sweden has sought entry to the European Union;

2.Is convinced furthermore that the early accession of Sweden to the European Union, particularly if this occurs together with the other applicant countries, will be an essential requirement for the early recovery of the European economy and will give a substantial boost to economic growth and the generation of employment resulting from increased trade throughout Europe;

3.Is convinced that the accession of Sweden to the European Union will further reinforce the fundamental principles of democracy, peace and security on which the Union is based and make a significant contribution to our respective economic, employment, technological, environmental, social and cultural interests and mutual well-being;

4.Believes that the outcome of the negotiations will substantially guarantee respect for the 'acquis' of the Union whilst safeguarding the protection of both parties' interests through limited, temporary exemptions which take account of the particular situation of the applicant country but also of the possibility and desirability, for the Union, of reviewing its legislation in those sectors and matters in which Sweden's standards are higher;

5.Considers the commitment by Sweden in the areas of foreign and security policy, as contained in the joint declaration annexed to the Treaty, to be positive; believes that such a commitment removes any doubt as to Sweden's willingness to take an active part in this pillar of the Treaty on European Union which is a fundamental element in the Union's development; notes that Sweden is not bound by any law which would restrict such participation;

6.Notes the Council's intention to create a new objective (No. 6) for regional policy and structural instruments which will further development in certain sub-Arctic regions with a population density of less than 8 inhabitants per square kilometre; regards this new objective as an alteration to the 'acquis' but considers it appropriate to meet the geographical, environmental and climatic characteristics of large areas of Sweden and of the other two Scandinavian countries;

7.Endorses the view that the greatest degree of understanding will need to be displayed by the Union concerning Sweden's existing trade relations with the Baltic States and the increasing liberalization of trade with the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, not least in the light of the European Council's declared aim of liberalizing the Union's trade with these states;

8.Urges the Commission to seek the highest degree of environmental protection consistent with the rules on free movement within an enlarged Union, based on the principle that there should be no lowering of environmental protection standards and taking special account of the extra vulnerability of the Swedish environment as a result of its particular climatic conditions;

9.Considers that the production, sale and use of snus in Sweden, based on a long Swedish tradition, does not have any adverse effects on the internal market;

10.Endorses the agreement concerning alcohol which enables Sweden to continue its policy which is based on social and health considerations and is non-discriminatory as regards the alcohol products of the Union;

11.Stresses that the full implementation of the free movement of people, goods, services and capital in an enlarged Union necessitates the strengthening of measures at Union level to combat drug trafficking and the laundering of criminal proceeds;

12.Points out that a whole series of measures agreed in agricultural and regional policy, as regards both Sweden and the other applicant countries, imply a revision of the financial perspectives;

13.Welcomes the fact that Swedish agriculture will be fully integrated into the CAP as from the first day of Sweden's membership, as this sets a useful precedent for the future, and that satisfactory solutions have been found concerning quotas, support for agriculture in northern Sweden and veterinary and phytosanitary standards;

14.Notes that the accession of the four EFTA countries is expected to contribute to the stability of the European continent, and believes that enlargement towards the eligible countries of the south will further enhance the geo-political balance of the European Union;

15.Draws the attention of the Council and the Commission to the need to respect the prerogatives of the budgetary authority when certain measures contained in the Treaties of Accession are adopted;

16.Welcomes the fact that a balanced and mutually beneficial solution has been found as regards budgetary matters, as this was of great importance in clearing the way for the wider trade benefits of Swedish accession;

17.Points out, however, that Sweden will be a net contributor to the Union's budget;

18.Expresses the conviction that the established tradition of cooperation between Sweden and the other members of the Nordic Council will not result in a lobby within the Union and that each country will, apart from its national interests, focus exclusively on the interests of Europe as a whole;

19.Welcomes the agreement on regional policy which will enable special provision to be made for Structural Fund assistance to the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Sweden which suffer from a severe combination of low population density, long distances to markets and particularly harsh climatic conditions;

20.Points out that a lack of agreement within the Council and between the Member States (and not disagreements with Sweden and the other applicant countries) delayed until the end of March the formal conclusion of the accession negotiations; believes that this conflict bears the grave responsibility for a possible delay to the entire timetable for accession;

21.Is concerned by the negative effect this delay and the reasons for it could have on Swedish public opinion and public opinion in the other applicant countries bearing in mind that referendums are scheduled to be held on the Treaties of Accession; believes that all Union institutions must provide sound information which will encourage the electorate to take a positive view, although it will primarily be the duty and the responsibility of the Swedish authorities and press as well as the political, economic and social powers to provide information ensuring a popular consensus in favour of accession;

22.Considers that this position can also be accepted and shared by Swedish institutions and public opinion in their desire to become part of an efficient and democratic Union whose decisions are taken openly;

23.Expresses its support, on the basis of overall policy considerations, for Sweden's accession to the European Union on 1 January 1995, in spite of the manifest inadequacies concerning the institutional development of the European Union and the shortcomings of the procedure for notifying Parliament;

24.Stresses the urgent need, bearing in mind its assent to enlargement of the Union, for the European Council in Corfu to make a formal public undertaking on Parliament's full participation in the reforms planned for 1996;

25.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the Parliament and Government of the Kingdom of Sweden.