MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14 November 2003

further to the Council and Commission statements
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Mogens N.J. Camre
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the Northern Dimension - New Action Plan 2004-2006

B5‑0477/2003

European Parliament resolution on the Northern Dimension - New Action Plan 2004-2006

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission's 2002 Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the Northern Dimension Action Plan,

–  having regard to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas, since its creation in 1999, the Northern Dimension has proved efficient and it is one of the most challenging regions of Europe,

B.  whereas the document focuses on five priority sectors: the economy and infrastructure, social issues (including education, training and public health), environment, nuclear safety and natural resources, justice and home affairs and cross-border cooperation,

C.  whereas the new border regions (Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) have great human and economic potential; whereas it will be important to strengthen efforts in the region to stimulate trade, investment, infrastructure, to exploit energy resources and to ease the flow of people and goods across borders while working closely together to combat organised crime,

D.  whereas maritime safety has become an ever more urgent issue, especially in the Baltic Sea, where oil transport by tankers is increasing rapidly; whereas the Baltic Sea is already heavily polluted and its position as an inland sea makes it especially endangered,

1.  Emphasises the need to involve elected representatives at all levels in the preparation of the Action Plan and in the process of democratic political implementation;

2.  Urges the Commission to take into account the following points in the 2004-2006 Northern Dimension Action Plan:

∙  calls for results from efforts to restructure health care systems in Russia and in the new Baltic countries, and to tackle the spread of communicable diseases (TB and HIV-AIDS);

∙  calls for results with regard to the role which the EU plays in reducing the environmental and socioeconomic risks stemming from radioactive waste in the Barents Sea, spent fuel, nuclear submarines and obsolete nuclear reactors;

∙  calls for the goal of effective waste water management and clean drinking water distribution;

∙  calls for maritime safety in the Baltic Sea, as the new ports which Russia is building and the rapidly increasing traffic are creating new threats to the fragile maritime environment; calls on the Commission to meet the highest international safety standards with regard to transport operations in the Baltic Sea;

∙  points out that effective border management is necessary in respect of the law and contacts across the border; considers that the new Northern Dimension Action Plan should give priority to fostering effective management of the new EU-Russia border and to fighting organised crime and trafficking in women in the region;

∙  stresses the development of the Kaliningrad region, which is an important factor for the overall development of the Northern Dimension area;

∙  calls for improved coordination between the EU, the Arctic Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Nordic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and other bodies involved in Arctic and regional matters on the one hand, and a clear division of responsibilities among all relevant public bodies in the EU on the other;

∙  insists on improved coordination and simplified procedures between the EU programmes concerned - Interreg, Phare and Tacis - with the aim of creating one single comprehensive framework for cross-border cooperation and facilitating pilot projects for achieving the most efficient system; asks the Commission to explore the viability of a separate ND budget line when drafting the 2004 budget;

∙  the introduction of the practice of annual reporting by the Commission to the European Parliament on developments in the policy area of the Northern Dimension;

3.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States, the new Member States and Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.