Czech Republic: membership application and partnership, 17 January 1996

The Committee has adopted report on the progress made towards accession by the Czech Republic. Overall, while the report draws attention to the remaining problems, it welcomes the progress achieved. However, it also stresses that the reforms being madeby these countries must be accompanied by measures to alleviate their social consequences. The accession process with the Czech Republic (rapporteur: Carlos CARNERO GONZÁLEZ, EUL/NGL, E) must be speeded up, says this report. It welcomes the existence of a national consensus on the subject of accession. Although the Czech Republic basically meets the spirit of the Copenhagen criteria, the report points to the need to revise the citizenship law and improve the legal system. The committee voices concern at the Czech Government's virtual inaction on the plight of the Roma minority and reaffirms the importance of protecting minorities. It also notes the Commission's assessment that the Czech Republic has made insufficient progress in bringing its legislation into line with the acquis communautaire in various areas. The report calls on the Czech Republic not to regard EU accession simply in terms of its economic benefits but also to see it as a political project which will entail contributing to the deepening of European political integration.�