Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Submitted by: Dada Amoilafoe, Lieke van Driel, Lucia Scotto, Sarrah Aulman, Sophie Hietink, Tudor Vlahu (Teni Shittu, IE)
The European Youth Parliament,
- Concerned by the vagueness of the Copenhagen Criteria1,
- Regarding the definition of a functioning market economy and stability of institutions,
- Noting with deep disapproval the lack of vigour and consistency in the application of rules to countries seeking candidate status2,
- Deeply concerned by the length and inconsistency of the deliberation period between the application and the awarding of candidate status to a country3,
- Recognising the economic effects of delays in the accession process, and its role in the increasing brain drain4 due to high emigration from aspiring EU-Member States,
- Praises the European Commission’s model of a two-part accession system5, seeking to filter the accessibility of EU Membership,
- Criticising the lack of financial support allocated by the European Commission to candidate states seeking to attain member status, considering the financial hardships of EU law transposition,
- Urges the European Commission to prevent inconsistencies by specifying the definition of a functioning market economy within the Copenhagen Criteria;
- Encourages the European Commission to act in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria by applying the functioning market economy definition to all applications from candidate states;
- Calls upon the European Investment Bank to reduce unemployment by providing grants to medium and large enterprises to establish branches in candidate states;
- Recommends for the European Council to replace unanimous decision making for the granting of candidate status by amending the procedure to that of an 85% majority;
- Commends the current position of the two-part system that consists of both an initial application, through negotiations and candidacy status, and the transposition of EU law by encouraging the continuation of such an approach;
- Instructs the Joint Committee on European Affairs6 together with candidate states to ensure an easier fulfilment of the criteria specified by the EU policy chapters, by beginning a process of twinning7 aimed at reducing the financial burden on candidate states.