Resolution on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 2002

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the outcome of the European Council meeting of 24 and 25 October. It welcomed the decision to conclude negotiations with the ten candidate countries in Copenhagen in December and to sign the Accession Treaty in April 2003. It stated, however, that public approval for enlargement could not be taken for granted, and more must be done to inform citizens about the accession process. The two communities in Cyprus were urged to reach a comprehensive settlement that would allow the accession of a reunited Cyprus. Parliament stated that it expected Turkey to support the forthcoming accession of Cyprus. Council and Commission were asked to present the results of the discussion on the 'new neighbours' initiative taking into account the fact that, beyond the south East European region and eastern Europe, the question of the 'wider Europe' must be addressed. On agriculture, Parliament welcomed the fact that the European Council has fallen into line with the Parliament and Commission on issues such as the phasing-in of direct aid, and other measures to ensure that the new Member States will not be in a worse financial situation than before membership. It regretted that the European Council has not also considered new political tasks in the field of external action as a result of enlargement. The Financial Perspective 2000-2006 needs to be adjusted to cater for enlargement on the basis of agreement in the budgetary authority. Dialogue should begin immediately. Parliament called for discussions on CAP reform to take place with Parliament. The latter should be granted full co-decision competence with regard to the CAP as well as responsibility for agricultural expenditure. Parliament went on to state that safeguard clauses in the Accession Treaties should only be used after consultation with the countries concerned and the European Parliament and only as a last resort to solve any transitional problems that might occur. The clauses should be exactly worded to avoid legal uncertainty. Parliament approved the Council's conclusions on NATO and Kalingrad. It condemned the terrorist attacks in Moscow, and deplored the refusal of the Russian authorities to provide full information to the families and public. There must be a negotiated solution to Chechnya, and this must be a priority issue for the next EU-Russia Summit.�