7 EU enlargement: Bulgaria and Romania
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13243/04
COM(04) 657
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| European Commission 2004 Regular Reports on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 7 November 2004
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 42-xxxiv (2003-04), para 12 (27 October 2004)
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| To be discussed in Council | December European Council
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Not cleared; further information awaited
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Background
7.1 On 6 October the Commission issued its annual reports on enlargement
and its enlargement strategy, including its Regular Reports on
Bulgarian and Romanian accession negotiations, which continue
to envisage full membership on 1 January 2007. The December European
Council is expected to decide on the conclusion of negotiations
with Romania and Bulgaria.
7.2 When we considered these reports on 27 October,
we noted that, despite the extensive progress required of both
candidates between now and 1 January 2007 to attain full readiness
for membership, the emphasis of the Minister for Europe (Mr Denis
MacShane) was on his strong support for the accession timetable.
We felt this called into question the extent to which the safeguard
clauses he mentioned were to be taken altogether seriously. We
accordingly kept the documents under scrutiny and asked:
- for the Minister's reassurance
on this point; and
- at an appropriate moment before the December
European Council, to be given a report on progress on the outstanding
issues, particularly as regards Romania, in whose case seven negotiating
chapters had still to be closed.
The Minister's letter
7.3 In his 7 November response, the Minister again
says that "the Government strongly supports Bulgaria and
Romania' s accession timetable as set out in the Commission's
latest enlargement strategy paper". He continues:
"The Commission believes Romania is well placed
to conclude negotiations by the end of the year provided the rate
of progress so far continues. The Regular Reports describe the
progress both countries have made in implementing the Copenhagen
criteria, while praising the continued economic and political
stability that both countries enjoy. We share this view. The accession
process has been a powerful lever for reform. I believe that for
this transformation process to continue, it is critical that the
momentum and pressure to reform afforded by the accession timetable
is maintained.
"Closure of negotiations is not the end of the
story. Both countries still have at least two years before accession.
As you rightly point out, Bulgaria and Romania have much to do
before full readiness for membership is achieved. Both countries
have made commitments during the negotiating process which must
be implemented before accession can take place. The Government
strongly believes that Romania and Bulgaria must use this time
to make sure they are fully prepared for membership. That is why
we strongly support the new enhanced monitoring arrangement and
safeguard clause by which accession can be delayed if either country
is not making good on these commitments or is manifestly unprepared
for membership. These ensure that the pressure is maintained beyond
closure of negotiations and that candidate countries keep the
reform momentum going. I would like to reassure you that the safeguard
is not an empty threat although clearly our preference is that
it does not need to be used. These more rigorous arrangements
are important not just in the context of Romania and Bulgaria.
They will also be important to the future success of the continuing
enlargement process — a process in which the UK has a considerable
interest."
7.4 On our second request, he says:
"I am happy to update the Committee on Romania's
progress in closing its remaining chapters as we approach the
December European Council. You will be aware that the next formal
assessment of Romania's readiness for membership will be in October
2005 and so I will not be in position to comment in detail on
the reform process until then. These Comprehensive Monitoring
Reports from the Commission will be an important stage in the
enhanced monitoring process."
Conclusion
7.5 We are grateful for the Minister's prompt
and positive response. We are happy to accept his assurance that
"the safeguard [mechanism] is not an empty threat",
and share his hope that it will not need to be used. We are also
glad he agrees that Bulgaria and Romania have much to do before
full readiness for membership is achieved. They have only a little
over two years to make themselves ready, according to
the timetable that the Commission and the Government support.
7.6 In the meantime, we look forward to the Minister's
promised report on Romania's progress in closing its remaining
chapters in the run-up to the December European Council, and we
continue to keep the document under scrutiny.
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