WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1928/97 by Salvador GARRIGA POLLEDO to the Council. Enlargement of the European Union
17. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 82/21 (98/C 82/28) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1928/97 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE) to the Council (5 June 1997) Subject: Enlargement of the European Union Is it consistent with the Treaty on European Union signed by the 15 Member States to put the objective of enlargement of the European Union ahead of the goal of achieving economic and social cohesion in the European Union? Answer (17 October 1997) The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 confirmed that the countries of central and eastern Europe could become members of the European Union. No order of priority was established in that context between the goal of enlargement and that of achieving economic and social cohesion in the European Union. The Amsterdam European Council on 16 and 17 June 1997 noted that, with the successful conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference, the way was open for launching the enlargement process in accordance with the conclusions of the Madrid European Council. On 16 July 1997 the Commission presented its opinions on the accession applications as well as a comprehensive communication ( Agenda 2000ö) covering the development of the Community, including the main conclusions and recommendations deriving from the opinions. The Council (General Affairs) will examine the Commissionís opinions and Agenda 2000 in depth and will present a comprehensive report to the December meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg, which will take the necessary decisions on the overall enlargement process. (98/C 82/29) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1955/97 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (5 June 1997) Subject: Visit to the EU by Yugoslav opposition leader Zoran Djindjic In the past the European Union has said that it would support the development of democracy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1. Can the Presidency explain why on 22 April an important opposition leader such as Zoran Djindjic, the present Mayor of Belgrade, was not given a top-level reception by the Netherlands when he stopped off on the way from Sweden? 2. Can the Presidency say why this opportunity was not seized to find out about the latest political and democratic developments in Belgrade? 3. Can the Presidency say why it passed over this opportunity to discuss effective support for the democratic process with one of the main leaders of the Yugoslav opposition? 4. Can the Presidency say why the opposition leader did not receive appropriate diplomatic support during his brief stay in the Netherlands, despite the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was aware of his visit, and why there was no official welcome on his arrival at Schiphol airport where a NOS camera team eventually offered him transport and booked a hotel room for him? 5. Does the Presidency feel that this attitude accords with the line to be pursued by the European Union, given the fact that other European Member States such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria, Sweden and Denmark, as well as the United States, have received Zoran Djindjic at the appropriate level?