91997E3338

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3338/97 by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission (22 October 1997)

Subject: European Commission's opinion on Estonia and Slovakia on the application for membership of the European Union

Could the Commission prepare a comparative analysis of Estonia and Slovakia on the basis of the criteria set up by the Copenhagen European Council, particularly in the field of:

1. protection of, and respect for, national minorities,

2. economic performance including the capacity to cope with the market forces within the European Union, and

3. current state of approximation of national legislation with that of the European Union.

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1997)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its report, Agenda 2000 for a stronger and wider Union, and the opinions on the individual applications for membership submitted by ten countries of central and eastern Europe, which were published on 15 July 1997. The opinions are based on a thorough and objective analysis of the conditions in each applicant country on the basis of the criteria agreed by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993. These documents, in particular the opinions on Estonia ((COM(97) 2006 final. )) and Slovakia ((COM(97) 2004 final. )), cover the issues raised by the Honourable Member.