92001E2291

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2291/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Declining support for the accession of applicant countries and possible repercussions of referenda

1. Is the Commission aware that in those East European countries with which the negotiations on accession to the European Union are the most advanced public support for accession is declining, now that it is becoming increasingly evident what obligations accession entails and that accession will not necessarily bring about a rapid rise in the standard of living, greater socio- economic security or unlimited disbursement of European structural and cohesion funds?

2. In which applicant countries is there a possibility of a referendum being held on accession and in which countries is it already likely that this will happen after completion of the negotiations?

3. In which of the current Member States is there the possibility, on the basis of legal provisions or government intentions, that the population will be able to express its views on the admission of new member states? In particular, does the Commission anticipate a referendum in Austria where fears of an influx of job-seekers from new member states and concerns about the Temelin nuclear power station may be used as a means of gathering domestic political support?

4. How does the Commission view the possibility of referenda in the Member States, and how does it access this possibility in the applicant countries, particularly against the background of the statements made by Mr Verheugen in 2000 on the desirability of increasing the involvement of the electorate by holding referenda on such fundamental issues?

5. Does the Commission already have an emergency plan with regard to what should be done if the accession of one or more Member States is blocked at a late stage by decisions by the electorate, who find the pace of accession too fast or who pose conditions on accession other than those agreed during the negotiations or even totally reject the very principle of accession?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2001)

The Commission closely monitors the state of public opinion on accession in the candidate countries via its delegation in each country, while its enlargement communication strategy provides factual information about all aspects of the accession process. A recent survey found an absolute (in some cases relative) majority of the population in each country in favour of its government's integration policy.

Individual countries may hold referendums in connection with their ratification of the accession treaty, if their constitutional and legal processes allow or require it. According to the Commission's information a referendum would be a constitutional requirement for ratification of the accession treaty in Romania and Slovakia.

The accession negotiations culminate in the signing of an accession treaty that then has to be ratified according to the constitutional procedures in each signatory country. The Commission sees no reason to give particular consideration to the outcome of the ratification process.