A year after” “

A year after enlargement from 15 to 25 member states (1st May 2004), the European Union continues to expand and is trying to come to terms with some key questions closely linked to the future of integration (ratification of the Constitutional Treaty, Financial Prospects 2007/2013), while the “ordinary” life of the institutions of the Twenty-Five proceeds in parallel. Romania AND Bulgaria ON course for eu MEMBERSHIP. On Monday 25 April the abbey of Neumünster, in Luxembourg, was the venue for the signing of the accession Treaty to the EU by Bulgaria and Romania. The many official speeches at the ceremony included that of the current President of the European Council of Ministers, Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Junker, that of the President of the European Parliament, the Spaniard Josep Borrell, and that of the President of the Commission, the Portuguese José Manuel Barroso. After the signing of the accession treaties, speeches were made by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Simeon OF Saxe-Coburg, and of the President of Romania Traian Basescu. The date of membership is fixed for 1st January 2007. The accession of the two Balkan countries will mean that the members of the “common home” will rise to 27. Up till then, however, the two countries will have to continue their process of reform to be able fully to conform to the Copenhagen criteria (rule of law, democracy, human rights and rights of minorities, modernization of the national economy). THE SITUATION OF ROMANY COMMUNITIES. The European Parliament met in Brussels last week (27-28 April) to discuss and approve its annual Report on human rights in the world. In the same session a declaration was made by the Commission on the situation of the gipsy communities in the Union. According to the study conducted by the Executive, Romanies have become, after EU enlargement in 2004, “one of the numerically most important minorities in the European Community”. They “represent a group of approximately 8-10 million people throughout the continent and are present in practically all member countries”. The studies show that “these communities sometimes represent over 5% of the population in some countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans”. In the report of the Barroso Commission reference is made to the three major objectives that the EU has set itself in support of these communities: “settlement of the most acute situations of crisis; formulation of specific policies for Romanies; and participation of gipsy communities in the civil society and democratic life of the countries in which they reside”. BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PROSPECTS. The Union is also being called during this period to finalise its financial arrangements for the coming years: at the centre of attention are the negotiations between EU institutions and member countries on the Financial Prospects 2007/2013, which represent the basic document to know what resources the EU will have at its disposal in the next five years, so as to be able to plan its common policies and implement inclusive measures in favour of the new member states. The current President of the Council, Jean-Claude Junker, has on various occasions declared that “the definition of the Financial Prospects for the next few years is a major objective of the Luxembourg Presidency”. The matter will be more fully discussed during the summit of the 25 in mid-June. In the meantime the first draft of the EU Budget for 2006, drawn up by the Commission, has appeared. It makes provision for “a growth of funds allocated to European research and greater investments in economic growth”. The preliminary draft of the 2006 Budget will be the last based on the current Financial Prospects: “The content of the draft is thus aimed at completing the political and financial commitments up till 2006”. It also “develops the strategic objectives of the Commission for 2005-2009: prosperity, solidarity, security, enlargement and a stronger role for the EU at the international level”. NEW CUSTOMS BARRIERS AND RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. In the week from 30 April to 8 May the European institutions will be throwing open their doors to citizens, who are being invited to visit EU headquarters in Brussels and Strasbourg. The “open doors” week is intended to reinforce the image of the Union as a “transparent” and “open home”. The event has generally been welcomed (last years there were thousands of visitors), but this year it comes at a particularly delicate moment in the life of the EU: on the one hand the debate is in progress on whether it is appropriate to increase duties on Chinese textile products, by raising new customs barriers and implementing an economic policy to protect European businesses; on the other, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the outcome of the French referendum for the ratification of the Constitution on 29 May. After a month of negative polls, a growth in the “yes” vote in the intentions of French electors has been registered in recent days. The 450 million European citizens are following events in France with extreme interest: the outcome could influence, positively or negatively, the Dutch referendum on 1st June and the other ratifications in the 19 states that have still to endorse the Constitution (six countries have already ratified it).