MEPs support Romania’s accession schedule

Stressing the need for close monitoring, the members of the
European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee say they support
Romania’s accession timetable.

In a debate on Romania’s accession schedule on 24 November,
members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
declared their support for closing the negotiations in 2004 and
signing the Accession Treaty in the first half of 2005. However,
MEPs emphasised that they want to “closely watch” the process.

The Parliament’s rapporteur, MEP Pierre Moscovici (PSE, France),
has proposed that after concluding the negotiations in 2004
the EU should aim to sign the Treaty on 9 May 2005. He sided with
fellow MEPs, among them Kinga Gál (EPP-ED, Hungary), who argued
that Romania’s accession “should be based on own merit and
performance” and that the ensuing monitoring process should be
coupled with a safeguard clause to be included in the treaty’s
text. 

In the opinion of MEP István Szent-Iványi (ALDE, Hungary),
“Romanians must be aware that they have to double their efforts if
we accept the report and negotiations are closed”. 

Several MEPs insisted that fellow EU candidate Bulgaria’s
progress should be assessed separately from that of Romania. At the
same time, the principle of equal treatment should continue to
apply. “We should be as critical on Romania as on all the other
countries trying to become members of the EU,” said MEP Joost
Lagendijk (Greens, the Netherlands).

Romania has yet to close three negotiation chapters
(Environment, Competition and Justice and Home Affairs). Bulgaria
concluded its negotiations in June 2004. 

The Commission was expected to release its latest progress
report on Romania on 24 November. However, for “technical reasons”
it has been delayed.

The EP is scheduled to vote on the report on 30 November.

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