The progress achieved by the European Union. Report 1994

In adopting the VALVERDE LOPEZ report, the European Parliament takes the view that dialogue between the European Council and Parliament must be stepped up, in particular by means of more frequent attendance by the President of the European Council at Parliament's part-sessions and by regularly involving the President of Parliament in the European Council's work. He considers it desirable for the Union's legislative priorities to be laid down by the institutions after the European Council has drawn up its annual report on progress achieved by the Union and drawn up its general political guidelines for the following year. Concerning legislative procedures, Parliament regrets that proposals concerning social, environmental and fiscal policy and company law have been blocked for several years and the fact that the Council has adopted about 50 instruments without consulting either the European Parliament or the national parliaments. It regrets the delay in introducing genuine freedom of movement for persons and considers that the concept of citizenship should be given greater substance by guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights. Concerning the common foreign and security policy and 'pillar three' (justice and home affairs), Parliament regrets the refusal of the Council to define with Parliament the terms under which Parliament is to be involved in accordance with the new provisions of the TEU. However, it welcomes the progress made with preparations for introducing the single currency and expresses the hope that the Italian Presidency will ensure that progress is made on the vital question of relationships between the currencies of the Member States which will be part of the EMU and of those Member States which will remain outside. �