Latvia: membership application and partnership, 13 October 1995

In adopting the report by Mr Caccavale (UPE, I), the committee stressed the need for the dynamic of the accession process to cover all the countries with which the EU had signed a Europe Agreement and restated its belief that the groups of accession candidates should not be regarded as closed. It also said that each country had the right to be judged on the same basic criteria and on its own achievements. The report noted the Latvia's economic achievements in introducing a market economy, privatizing the public sector, controlling inflation and balancing the budget. It confirmed the European Parliament's positive appraisal of Latvia's progress in setting up national institutions guaranteeing the rule of law and welcomed the amendments to the nationality law. Consequently, the report called on the Council and the Commission to start negotiations with Latvia as quickly as possible. Finally, the amendment tabled by the PSE group, calling on the Council and the Commission to re-examine the possibility of opening negotiations with Latvia before the end of June 1999 was rejected.�