Estonia: membership application

The European Parliament adopted the resolution from Mrs Gunilla CARLSSON (EPP/ED, Sw). It notes that Estonia fulfils the Copenhagen criteria and welcomes the amendments to the language law to align it with international standards and trusts that the Estonian authorities will implement the legal provisions as part of the comprehensive measures for the integration of non-citizens. The Parliament regards the forthcoming adoption of the State Integration Programme as an important development. The Estonian government is urged to enhance its efforts in the field of labour market policies and social security. Furthermore, the magnitude of the task of meeting EU environmental standards is highlighted while also pointing to the distortions of competition caused by the CAP to agricultual markets in the applicant countries. The Parliament urges the Estonian government to continue their efforts to curb drug trafficking and drug addiction, in particular through close collaboration between legal bodies, police forces and Europol. On the other hand, Estonia is congratulated on ratifying the 1999 Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime.�