MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

12.6.2006

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Martin Schulz, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda, Pierre Moscovici and Alexandra Dobolyi
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania

B6‑0348/2006

European Parliament resolution on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its earlier resolutions on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, in particular its resolutions of 15 December 2005,

–   having regard to the Treaty of Accession to the European Union signed by Bulgaria and Romania on 25 April 2005,

–  having regard to the Monitoring Reports on the state of preparedness for EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania presented by the Commission on 16 May,

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

A.  whereas the Commission notes that significant improvements have been achieved by Bulgaria and Romania since the Commission's last report,

B.  whereas progress in a limited number of areas has still not been completely satisfactory, and whereas Bulgaria and Romania must take immediate steps to make good these shortcomings in order to join the Union on 1 January 2007,

C.  whereas the Commission will present further monitoring reports on the state of preparedness for EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania at the beginning of October 2006,

D.  whereas the European Parliament has expressed the clear wish to see Romania and Bulgaria join the Union on 1 January 2007, provided that the conditions laid down in the Treaty of Accession are fulfilled by each of those two countries,

E.  whereas agreement was reached through an exchange of letters between the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Commission on the full involvement of the European Parliament in any consideration of activation of one of the safeguard clauses in the Treaty of Accession,

1.  Has with great interest taken note of the reports by the Commission on the state of preparedness of Bulgaria and Romania for their accession to the European Union and pays tribute to the great care and seriousness with which the Commission has monitored the preparatory efforts for and the implementing measures undertaken by both countries in order to meet the conditions for their entering the European Union by 1 January 2007;

2.  Notes with satisfaction that the Commission maintains the deadline for both countries to enter the European Union by 1 January 2007 on condition that the necessary measures are taken to resolve the outstanding problems, and accepts the recommendations made by the Commission with regard to the further procedure for taking a final decision on the date of accession of Bulgaria and Romania;

3.  Stresses that the Bulgarian and Romanian Governments must be aware of the need to fully use the remaining months and make a further effort to meet the requirements for achieving full EU membership by 1 January 2007;

4.  Notes with satisfaction the serious efforts and considerable progress made by Romania and Bulgaria in the past months to meet the political and economic criteria of the EU as well as gradually adopt and implement the acquis communautaire;

5.  Is aware that a decision on the accession of each country will be taken on its own merits and in the light of its achievements, but is convinced that on the basis of the progress achieved so far by both countries and their activities geared to achieving further progress in the next few months, Bulgaria and Romania can enter the European Union together and on the same date;

6.  Calls on all political forces in Bulgaria and Romania to concentrate their activities on completing fulfilment of the conditions for EU membership by 1 January 2007 and to create the necessary political stability to achieve this objective;

7.  Calls on the Commission to clearly formulate which further, concrete steps the two acceding countries are expected to take to realise their aspiration to rapid full EU membership; urges the Member States to complete the ratification process for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania on schedule;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments and Parliaments of Bulgaria and Romania.