The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 4 and 5 November 2004,

-  having regard to the report from the High Level Group, chaired by Wim Kok, on the Lisbon Strategy,

-  having regard to the multiannual Hague programme, setting out both the achievements and the challenges to be met in the next five years in the continued development of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice,

-  having regard to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, signed in Rome on 29 October 2004,

-  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the Lisbon strategy for enhancing the competitiveness of the European economies, risks becoming a 'synonym for missed objectives and failed promises' unless urgent action is taken,

B.  whereas the Hague programme comprises the building blocks of the new multiannual agenda for the area of freedom, security and justice,

Lisbon Strategy

1.  Is disappointed by the conclusions on the Lisbon process;

2.  Welcomes the report from the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok, which in clear and unequi vocal language sets out the dramatic need to revise and revitalise the Lisbon process;

3.  Believes that the European Council should have decided that the report from the High Level Group would serve as the basis for the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy by Parliament, the Council and the Commission;

4.  Agrees with the report of the High Level Group that more effective ways must be found to measure the progress of the Lisbon process, and, in particular, that the numbers of indicators must be cut back to the essentials and public league tables must be produced by the Commission charting the progress of Member States;

5.  Welcomes the much-needed support the European Council gives to the process of decreasing the administrative burden, simplifying Community legislation, and establishing better impact assessments; undertakes to work as a co-legislator along the Commission and Council to achieve these aims;

Hague Programme

6.  Takes note of the Hague Programme adopted by the European Council;

7.  Welcomes the historic decision of the European Council to the effect that no later than 1 April 2005 full QMV plus codecision will be applied to all areas of Justice and Home Affairs (Title IV), with the exception of legal migration; recalls that this fulfils a long-standing objective of the European Parliament from successive IGCs, and urges the Commission to deploy the new democratic and efficient decision-making procedures to their fullest effect;

8.  Warns that the integrated approach and the Community method set out by the Tampere Programme and outlined in the Hague Programme must not be undermined by the exceptionalism of individual Member States, such as Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain (the so-called G5);

9.  Notes the intention of proceeding to a second phase of the Common European Asylum System, but reminds the European Council that the directive on asylum procedures is not yet adopted and that the proposed use of safe third countries of origin raises a number of serious concerns;

10.  Stresses that there is an urgent need to reduce illegal immigration and that the only way forward is a coherent and comprehensive European asylum and immigration policy, and not legally dubious 'quick fixes' such as external asylum processing centres;

11.  Agrees that legal migration and the successful integration of legally resident third-country nationals are key contributors to economic development and societal cohesion, and welcomes concrete proposals to ensure an exchange of best national practice in the field of integration and non-discrimination;

12.  Notes the further steps to be taken in the integrated management of the external borders, including the operational functioning of the SIS II and VIS systems, Eurodac and the European Border Management Agency, and insists on full parliamentary involvement and that new measures be in full compliance with data protection standards;

13.  Agrees in principle with the need for an enhancement of security standards in travel documents, but is concerned by the push for the use of biometrics on a large-scale and unprecedented level without a proper evaluation of the impact on privacy and costs;

14.  Stresses that mutual recognition is the cornerstone of a European Area of Justice based on civil and criminal judicial cooperation, and believes that this must be facilitated by concrete steps to strengthen mutual confidence and understanding among different legal systems; reiterates the importance of respecting the rights of suspects and defendants;

15.  Believes that improving the exchange of information between law enforcement authorities with proper involvement of Europol and Eurojust is the key to the effective prevention and combating of terrorism and serious crime, but emphasises the need for permanent review so as to strike the right balance between law enforcement requirements and the protection of data, human rights and fundamental freedoms;

16.  Welcomes the intention to set up an EU Human Rights Agency, but at the same time notes that only an Agency with a clear mandate, properly financed and staffed, can fulfil the objective of safeguarding and monitoring the state of human rights;

17.  Welcomes the statement made by Commission President-designate Barroso in plenary on 26 October 2004 expressing his commitment to giving civil rights and anti-discrimination policy top priority; deplores the fact that the Council Conclusions do not remotely reflect that ambition;

Communicating Europe

18.  Notes the conclusions on 'communicating Europe'; while recognising that the individual campaigns relating to ratification remain a national responsibility, insists that the European Council has a collective responsibility to bring the Constitution into force as soon as possible, and that some significant leadership is therefore required at EU level to coordinate the campaign for the Constitution; urges the European Council to appoint one or more high-level persons to communicate and inform the European public on the Constitutional Treaty from a truly European perspective;

19.  Reiterates its suggestion for simultaneous ratification by a number of Member States in the first week of May 2005, the 60th anniversary of the ending of World War II;

Multilateralism

20.  Welcomes the fact that the European Council underlined, in its congratulations to President Bush following his re-election, its commitment to multilateralism and the need for the EU and the US to work together in international institutions;

21.  Welcomes the declaration of the European Council on the relations between the EU and Iraq and the support expressed to Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi for the political transition leading to a constitutionally elected Iraqi government; expects the Commission to take urgent action to implement the package of actions outlined in the declaration and to keep Parliament fully informed on progress;

22.  Welcomes the European Council's conclusions regarding the Middle East and the need for the regular functioning of the leadership of the Palestinian Authority and a legitimate transfer of power when needed; underlines the commitment to a two-state solution, and the need for Israel to support the electoral process in the Palestinian Territories; calls on the Commission and the High Representative to keep Parliament fully informed on any forthcoming support action directed to the Palestinian authorities concerning future elections;

23.  Welcomes the continuing emphasis the European Council places on finding a solution to questions surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, especially through the IAEA; shares the view that the negotiations on a trade and cooperation agreement can only be resumed when the suspension of the nuclear programme is confirmed;

24.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council and the Commission.