Work in progress” “

Definition of relations between EU and Turkey; annual budget and financial prospects of the EU; programme of work of the Barroso Commission; a common strategy against terrorism; the war on drugs… all this and more is on the agenda of the Community of the 25, which is experiencing yet another crucial week in its destiny. The plenary session of the European Parliament is now in progress in Strasbourg (13-16 December), while the heads of state and of government are due to meet in Brussels (16-17 December) for their usual year-end summit. RELATIONS WITH TURKEY: RESULT STILL UNCERTAIN. The Parliament is called to furnish an opinion on the question of the opening of negotiations with Turkey, as the Commission already did two months ago. For its part the EP’s committee of foreign affairs has already expressed a favourable view, “so long as the country proceeds along the road of economic and social reforms” and “guarantees respect of human rights and minorities”. So the European Council – which will have the final word on the matter – “should open negotiations, without predetermining Turkey’s automatic membership”. The revolving Presidency of the EU, held by Holland until 31 December, has drafted a document that will be submitted to the other governments. The outcome of the meeting remains uncertain, since some countries are in principle in favour of opening negotiations, so as to accelerate Ankara’s reforms; others insist that the Cypriot question be first solved, and prefer not to fix any timetable for Turkey’s membership. Others again would prefer a reinforced partnership with Turkey, excluding the start of negotiations for the time being. Bulgaria AND Romania ON THE FINAL STRAIGHT. The European Council – chaired by Dutch premier Jan Peter Balkenende – is expected to express a favourable opinion on the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 (Parliament too agrees about this), while insisting that the two States continue the reforms they have begun. In particular Romania would be required to continue the reform of its system of justice and public administration, “also to combat the phenomenon of corruption”. The summit is also expected to express an opinion on the membership application lodged by Croatia, whose “candidate” status has already been recognized. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been invited to the summit for an exchange of views on international policy issues. Terrorism and drugs are two other issues on the agenda. DEADLOCK ON FINANCIAL PROSPECTS. The EU’s 2005 Budget has arrived in the debating chamber in Strasbourg, following approval on its second reading by the competent committee. Next year’s resources will be limited to 106.3 billion euros, but “the funding of the priorities defined by the Parliament is guaranteed”. The two institutions responsible for EU accounts, Parliament and Council, have thus reached a compromise, that involves key sectors like agriculture, structural measures, internal and external policies and pre-membership aid. As for the latter, 120 million euros have already been included in the budget “to promote the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community”, while “the funding earmarked for Croatia has been increased to 105 million euros”. Meanwhile the deadlock on the financial prospects for the period 2007-2013 continues between Strasbourg and Brussels; this question too will be submitted to the summit of the heads of state and of government. In this regard, Polish MEP Janusz Lewandowski, chairman of the budget committee, explained that “if the Union intends to become a protagonist on the world scene, EU programmes must continue to be endowed with sufficient funds to achieve the ambitious objectives we have fixed”. During its session in early December, the EP passed a Resolution aimed at the Council itself, according to which the Parliament is unwilling “to adopt new financial prospects unless they guarantee the funding of policies for a greater integration and cohesion of the EU”. Sacharov PRIZE TO JOURNALISTS OF BELARUS. The words “freedom”, “democracy” and “human rights” resounded in the debating chamber during the ceremony for the award of the Sacharov Prize for freedom of the spirit, awarded this year to the Press Association of Belarus. Its president Zhanna Litvina received the prize (50,000 euros) from EP President Josep Borrell on Tuesday 14 December. The association helps to promote the independence of the media in Belarus by providing legal assistance, monitoring violations of freedom of expression and publishing its analyses on its own website.