EP - MEPs want to give conditional assent to accession of Romania and Bulgaria

A majority of MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee are tending towards giving their assent to Romania's and Bulgaria's membership of the EU, while seeking to ensure that Parliament will be involved in any decisions to postpone accession by one year until 2008.

Unlike earlier accessions, in the case of Bulgaria and Romania a special procedure exists, known as the safeguard clause, under which the Council may decide to postpone these countries' accessions if they fail to take all necessary measures in time. Formally, Parliament's powers over the accession process end once it has given its assent but MEPs are now seeking a way to remain involved nevertheless. Before the vote on the accessions in committee, scheduled for 30 March, MEPs want to hear the views of the Commission and the Council on this point.

Most MEPs stressed that it was important to have Bulgaria and Romania join the EU on the same date, although Parliament's rapporteur for Bulgaria, Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK), felt it would be unfair if Bulgaria, which poses few remaining problems, were forced to wait another year unnecessarily.

The draft report on Romania, drawn up by Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR), cites many more problems, with administrative and judicial reforms, corruption, freedom of the press, local and regional governance, child protection, state aid and the environment. However, the change of government in Romania is felt to be a major change for the good.

Francisco José MILLÁN MON (EPP-ED, ES) pointed out that the new government in Bucharest has launched an ambitious programme to accelerate and deepen the necessary reforms. Joost LAGENDIJK (Greens/EFA, NL) said that the former PDS government had been part of the problem and that it would be unfair to punish the new government for the mistakes of the old. However, four months is too short a period in which to really judge its performance and therefore Parliament should be able to keep tabs on developments in Romania. José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (EPP-ED, ES) expressed some reservations about whether Parliament would be able to have a direct role after giving its assent, saying that it was the Commission's task to monitor the reforms in Romania and that it was Parliament's task to have scrutiny over the Commission.

Annemie NEYTS-UYTTENBROECK (ALDE, BE) said a large majority of her group, but not all, was in favour of Parliament giving its assent, especially if it can continue to be involved until accession actually takes place. Erik MEIJER (GUE/NGL, NL) said he was surprised at the ease with which a majority was agreeing to Romania's accession and wondered whether this had anything to do with the country's linguistic and cultural ties with certain Member States. Charles TANNOCK (EPP-ED, UK) called on Romania to cooperate in finding a solution for Snake Island and the problems in Moldova.

The Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on Bulgaria's and Romania's accession on 30 March. One day earlier, enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will be at the committee. The full Parliament is expected to vote on 13 April.

16.03.2005 Committee on Foreign Affairs
In the chair: Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, DE)
Procedure: Assent
Plenary: April

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• EP - Parliament gives green light to Romania and Bulgaria (13/4/2005)
• Speech by Commissioner Rehn on Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to the EU (12/4/2005)
• Forthcoming accession of Bulgaria and Romania (8/4/2005)
• EP - MEPs back Romanian and Bulgarian EU entry but want a say on any postponement (30/3/2005)
• The New European Union of 25 (6/5/2003)