MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14 February 2000
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by the following Members: Queiró, Muscardini and Berthu
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the Commission's strategic objectives 2000-2005
B5-0136/2000
Resolution on the Commission's strategic objectives 2000-2005
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 9 February 2000,
A. having regard to the strategic objectives set out in the Communication from the Commission,
B. having regard to the role conferred on the Commission by the Treaties,
1. Notes the Commission's strategy approach for the next five years, and questions the Commission's adoption of the concept of the 'New Europe';
2. Points out to the Commission its essential role as guardian of the Treaties;
3. Stresses the vague nature of the general approach set out in this document;
4. Considers, unlike the Commission, that, while globalisation justifies European cooperation, it on no account calls into question the relevance of the nation state, which, in remaining the natural context for the exercise of democracy, is perfectly able to confront the challenges of globalisation;
5. Expresses surprise at the Commission's ambition to serve as a model for 'global governance', and requests the Commission to define this concept more precisely;
6. Considers that enlargement of the Union will be crowned with success only if the Commission is able resolutely to defend the specific character of Europe and European interests during the WTO negotiations;
7. Also considers it essential that, in trade negotiations with third countries, the Commission does not enter into any commitments contrary to those entered into by the Member States of the Union under other international trade agreements, and in particular the TRIPS agreements;
8. Demands that, in trade negotiations with third countries, the Commission in future scrupulously observe the mandates for negotiation granted to it by the Council, and calls upon the latter to introduce mechanisms for monitoring the mandate during negotiations;
9. Welcomes the fact that the Commission's objectives include improving food safety and maritime transport safety, and desires that the Union's international commercial policy is consistent with these objectives;
10. Expresses surprise at the lack of real ambition in respect of the European model of agriculture;
11. Questions the powers which the Commission appears to assume in respect of the quality and composition of the public finances of the Member States;
12. Expresses surprise that only a slight mention is made of the introduction of the euro, in the past tense, while major problems such as that of public acceptance of the future currency, the establishment of a more balanced monetary policy than one aimed solely at combating inflation, the status of future members vis-à-vis the euro or the confusion on international markets in the face of a currency without economic direction remain to be resolved;
13. Welcomes the fact that the Commission's priority objectives include that of improving cooperation with the Member States in the area of international relations; stresses, however, that, pursuant to the Treaties, the role of the Commission is to reinforce cooperation between the Member States and not to substitute itself for them in this area which is intrinsically bound up with national sovereignty;
14. Also welcomes the attention paid by the Commission to revitalising the Barcelona process, and desires the EU's Mediterranean policy to be strengthened in the coming years;
15. Expresses surprise that this Communication does not refer explicitly to the Lomé process, and stresses the great importance which it attaches to the commitments entered into by the Member States and the Union under the convention in question;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States.