POSITION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF LITHUANIA ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S REGULAR REPORT 2001 ON LITHUANIA'S PROGRESS TOWARDS ACCESSION AND ON THE STRATEGY PAPER
Created 2001-11-14
2001 November 14, Vilnius
Regular Report on Lithuania·
The Report is objective, comprehensive and useful. It presents a realistic picture of Lithuania's achievements and shortcomings. Acknowledgement of Lithuania's achievements is well-deserved. · Lithuania is fully aware of the shortcomings identified by the Commission. The Government of Lithuania acknowledges these shortcomings and is intensively working to tackle them. Commission's opinion is being carefully analysed. Elimination of these shortcomings and implementation of reforms is necessary in order to achieve Lithuania's strategic goal - to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2002 and to be ready for the EU membership as of 1 January, 2004.· Specific areas were progress is needed are, inter alia: - Strengthening of administrative and judicial capacities, continuity and stability of administration and its ability to implement and enforce the EU acquis; - Fight against corruption; - Encouraging domestic and foreign direct investments, improving conditions for business; - Measures against unemployment; - Vigorous structural reforms, especially in the fields of pension, agriculture and energy; - Preparation for financial management and control of the EU funds. · In this year's Regular Report, the Commission has recognised that Lithuania, as well as other nine candidates, is a functioning market economy and should be able to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the near term, provided that it makes further substantial efforts to continue with the vigorous implementation of its structural reform programme. This is an important political assessment of the present and previous Governments. It is also an encouragement to proceed consistently with preparations for accession with the help of measures to be set out in the new priorities of Accession Partnership.· The Commission has also noted, that Lithuania has made progress towards meeting the accession priorities related to the political criteria as well as in terms of transposition and implementation in most areas of the acquis. The Commission stresses Lithuania's significant progress in preparations for the EU internal market, Economic and Monetary Union, in the sectors of Transport policy, Competition and other sectors. These achievements are reflected in the outstanding progress in the accession negotiations. This is recognised by the Commission and Member States.· Programme of the Lithuanian Government and the Action Plan for its implementation reflect the objectives identified by the Commission. They are top priority. Strategy Paper· The Commission has stated that the road map, set out last year, has proven its worth. Lithuania fully agrees with this assessment. Continuing to follow the road map should make it possible to conclude negotiations with the most advanced countries - including Lithuania - by the end of 2002 so that they can become members of the EU in 2004.· The Commission recognises that the EU financial framework for 2000-2006, agreed in Berlin in 1999, provides a sufficient basis for the accession of ten new Member States. It is noteworthy, that the accession calendars of ten candidates (including Lithuania) correspond to the timetable of enlargement.· The Commission also states, that reforms of EU policies or institutions should not hinder or slow down the EU enlargement. This is very important as regards negotiations on Agriculture and Regional policy, which constitute the main part of the EU's budget. It means that negotiations in these sensitive areas can be concluded next year provided that necessary decisions are made by Member States. These issues, together with the Financial and budgetary provisions, are likely to form a final package for negotiations. In the case of some candidate countries, this package may include specific issues. For example, in the case of Lithuania, it may additionally involve the Energy chapter (provisions on financing of the closure of Ignalina NPP). · The Commission is of the opinion that negotiations on chapters having financial implications have to be negotiated in the framework of Agenda 2000, thus -independently of the accession negotiations. This opens an opportunity for Lithuania to participate in the process of forming EU's next budget (EU financial framework of 2007-2013) as a Member State. · Of central importance is the assessment by the Commission that the Financial perspective agreed in 1999 in Berlin can accommodate up to 10 new Member States and is still expected to stay well below the maximum ceiling of 1.27%, including after enlargement. This means that the EU has a budgetary potential to favourably accommodate broad interests, including those of new Member States.· Lithuania welcomes the recognition by the Commission that the public opinion - both in the EU Member States and the candidate countries is influenced by the developments in the accession negotiations. The Government of Lithuania fully agrees with the suggestion made by Commissioner GunterVerheugen on November 13 that negotiations must be both flexible and result-oriented. In Lithuania's opinion, this judgement also requires a need for the understanding of social sensitivities of some sectors, for example - agriculture, taxation or the issue of closure of Ignalina NPP. Lithuania expects that necessary flexibility, declared by the Commission, will favour new members of the EU, and the solutions achieved will be acceptable to the Lithuanian public.· It is noteworthy, that the Commission in its Strategic paper suggests to focus on the strengthening of administrative and judicial capacity of the candidate countries next year. It also suggests to design relevant action plans backed by substantial additional funding. Lithuania, which was among the first candidate countries to create a national plan of institution building, welcomes this initiative and pledges readiness to jointly prepare and implement it.· Lithuania takes note of the Commission's judgement that the accession of new members will be embodied in a single Accession Treaty and that technical preparations for drafting of the Treaty have already started. Lithuania is also preparing for the drafting process. This is yet another indication of the beginning of the final stages of negotiations.· Lithuania strongly welcomes the Commission's call to involve the candidates in the Convention, which is to discuss the future of the EU and to prepare the next Intergovernmental Conference for the reform of the EU. It is also appreciated that that further institutional reform is not a new condition for enlargement. It is also, however, important for the new members, which will join the EU in 2004, to have a possibility to participate in the process of decision making of the next IGC. · Lithuania also welcomes the position of the Commission that solution on the Cyprus problem is not a pre-condition for the enlargement of the EU. Lithuania nevertheless hopes that a settlement is possible without further delays. · Lithuania welcomes the proposal of the Commission to give focus on what Romano Prodi calls "a new neighbourhood policy". There is a clear need to co-operate with future border regions of the enlarged EU - the regions, to which enlargement of the EU will open new economic opportunities. Since Lithuania's eastern border will become a part of the Union's external border, the Government of Lithuania is particularly interested in regional co-operation with its neighbours. This topic is also a priority of the Lithuanian Chairmanship in the Council of Europe.
Regular Report on Lithuania·
The Report is objective, comprehensive and useful. It presents a realistic picture of Lithuania's achievements and shortcomings. Acknowledgement of Lithuania's achievements is well-deserved. · Lithuania is fully aware of the shortcomings identified by the Commission. The Government of Lithuania acknowledges these shortcomings and is intensively working to tackle them. Commission's opinion is being carefully analysed. Elimination of these shortcomings and implementation of reforms is necessary in order to achieve Lithuania's strategic goal - to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2002 and to be ready for the EU membership as of 1 January, 2004.· Specific areas were progress is needed are, inter alia: - Strengthening of administrative and judicial capacities, continuity and stability of administration and its ability to implement and enforce the EU acquis; - Fight against corruption; - Encouraging domestic and foreign direct investments, improving conditions for business; - Measures against unemployment; - Vigorous structural reforms, especially in the fields of pension, agriculture and energy; - Preparation for financial management and control of the EU funds. · In this year's Regular Report, the Commission has recognised that Lithuania, as well as other nine candidates, is a functioning market economy and should be able to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the near term, provided that it makes further substantial efforts to continue with the vigorous implementation of its structural reform programme. This is an important political assessment of the present and previous Governments. It is also an encouragement to proceed consistently with preparations for accession with the help of measures to be set out in the new priorities of Accession Partnership.· The Commission has also noted, that Lithuania has made progress towards meeting the accession priorities related to the political criteria as well as in terms of transposition and implementation in most areas of the acquis. The Commission stresses Lithuania's significant progress in preparations for the EU internal market, Economic and Monetary Union, in the sectors of Transport policy, Competition and other sectors. These achievements are reflected in the outstanding progress in the accession negotiations. This is recognised by the Commission and Member States.· Programme of the Lithuanian Government and the Action Plan for its implementation reflect the objectives identified by the Commission. They are top priority. Strategy Paper· The Commission has stated that the road map, set out last year, has proven its worth. Lithuania fully agrees with this assessment. Continuing to follow the road map should make it possible to conclude negotiations with the most advanced countries - including Lithuania - by the end of 2002 so that they can become members of the EU in 2004.· The Commission recognises that the EU financial framework for 2000-2006, agreed in Berlin in 1999, provides a sufficient basis for the accession of ten new Member States. It is noteworthy, that the accession calendars of ten candidates (including Lithuania) correspond to the timetable of enlargement.· The Commission also states, that reforms of EU policies or institutions should not hinder or slow down the EU enlargement. This is very important as regards negotiations on Agriculture and Regional policy, which constitute the main part of the EU's budget. It means that negotiations in these sensitive areas can be concluded next year provided that necessary decisions are made by Member States. These issues, together with the Financial and budgetary provisions, are likely to form a final package for negotiations. In the case of some candidate countries, this package may include specific issues. For example, in the case of Lithuania, it may additionally involve the Energy chapter (provisions on financing of the closure of Ignalina NPP). · The Commission is of the opinion that negotiations on chapters having financial implications have to be negotiated in the framework of Agenda 2000, thus -independently of the accession negotiations. This opens an opportunity for Lithuania to participate in the process of forming EU's next budget (EU financial framework of 2007-2013) as a Member State. · Of central importance is the assessment by the Commission that the Financial perspective agreed in 1999 in Berlin can accommodate up to 10 new Member States and is still expected to stay well below the maximum ceiling of 1.27%, including after enlargement. This means that the EU has a budgetary potential to favourably accommodate broad interests, including those of new Member States.· Lithuania welcomes the recognition by the Commission that the public opinion - both in the EU Member States and the candidate countries is influenced by the developments in the accession negotiations. The Government of Lithuania fully agrees with the suggestion made by Commissioner GunterVerheugen on November 13 that negotiations must be both flexible and result-oriented. In Lithuania's opinion, this judgement also requires a need for the understanding of social sensitivities of some sectors, for example - agriculture, taxation or the issue of closure of Ignalina NPP. Lithuania expects that necessary flexibility, declared by the Commission, will favour new members of the EU, and the solutions achieved will be acceptable to the Lithuanian public.· It is noteworthy, that the Commission in its Strategic paper suggests to focus on the strengthening of administrative and judicial capacity of the candidate countries next year. It also suggests to design relevant action plans backed by substantial additional funding. Lithuania, which was among the first candidate countries to create a national plan of institution building, welcomes this initiative and pledges readiness to jointly prepare and implement it.· Lithuania takes note of the Commission's judgement that the accession of new members will be embodied in a single Accession Treaty and that technical preparations for drafting of the Treaty have already started. Lithuania is also preparing for the drafting process. This is yet another indication of the beginning of the final stages of negotiations.· Lithuania strongly welcomes the Commission's call to involve the candidates in the Convention, which is to discuss the future of the EU and to prepare the next Intergovernmental Conference for the reform of the EU. It is also appreciated that that further institutional reform is not a new condition for enlargement. It is also, however, important for the new members, which will join the EU in 2004, to have a possibility to participate in the process of decision making of the next IGC. · Lithuania also welcomes the position of the Commission that solution on the Cyprus problem is not a pre-condition for the enlargement of the EU. Lithuania nevertheless hopes that a settlement is possible without further delays. · Lithuania welcomes the proposal of the Commission to give focus on what Romano Prodi calls "a new neighbourhood policy". There is a clear need to co-operate with future border regions of the enlarged EU - the regions, to which enlargement of the EU will open new economic opportunities. Since Lithuania's eastern border will become a part of the Union's external border, the Government of Lithuania is particularly interested in regional co-operation with its neighbours. This topic is also a priority of the Lithuanian Chairmanship in the Council of Europe.
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