Republic of Romania: application for accession to the European Union

The European Parliament adopted a resolution by 497 in favour, 93 against and 71 abstentions on Romania’s application to become a member of the European Union. The rapporteur was Pierre MOSCOVICI (PES, FR). (Please see the summary of 30/03/05.) Parliament praised reforms introduced in Romania and the invaluable role played since 1990 by non-governmental organisations and other civil society actors in the process of democratisation, the fight against corruption, the protection of the freedom of the press and the drive for an independent judiciary. It also commended the substantial improvement in economic performance and the establishment of a functioning market economy thanks to important structural changes.

Parliament felt however, that further consolidation of macroeconomic stability is required if Romania is to be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. It asked the Romanian authorities to continue their efforts to curb the budget deficit and encouraged them to press ahead with the process of privatisation and restructuring, particularly in the steel sector.

Parliament went on to discuss some of the matters of concern identified in the Commission’s latest progress report and emphasised the effective implementation of administrative and judicial reforms. It noted that also that, whilst the industrial policy of Romania is stable and to some extent predictable, Romania’s administrative capacity is deficient. Equally urgent is the need to eliminate structural obstacles to investment, such as excessive bureaucracy and an unstable legislative environment.

Members expressed concern about the long transition periods agreed in the negotiations regarding the environment chapter and called on the Commission and the Romanian authorities to take measures in order to substantially improve administrative capacity in the environmental field.

Parliament will continue to follow closely the process which will lead to Romania's accession in January 2007 and asked the Commission to keep it regularly informed of the extent to which the Romanian authorities honour the commitments given in the accession treaty, particularly as regards the fight against corruption, the environment, the field of justice and home affairs and competition.

Finally, Parliament stressed that it approved the accession treaty on condition that the Council and the Commission fully involve it in the decision-making in the event that the safeguard clauses contained in the accession treaty were to be used in the context of Romania's accession.