(8)
In so far as the Treaty of Accession transposes the principles governing the institutional balance of the
Union of 15 to a Union of 25, these provisions are acceptable for the period up until the enforcement
of the provisions which will follow the Intergovernmental Conference provided for in the Declaration
on the future of the Union attached to the Treaty of Nice.
(9)
In joining the European Union, the applicant States accept, without reserve, the Treaty on European
Union and all its objectives, all decisions taken since the entry into force of the Treaties establishing
the European Communities and the Treaty on European Union and the options taken in respect of the
development and strengthening of those Communities and of the Union.
(10)
It is an essential feature of the legal order introduced by the Treaties establishing the European
Communities that certain of their provisions and certain acts adopted by the institutions are
directly applicable, that Community law takes precedence over any national provisions which
might conflict with it, and that procedures exist for ensuring the uniform interpretation of
Community law; accession to the European Union implies recognition of the binding nature of
these rules, observance of which is indispensable to guarantee the effectiveness and unity of
Community law.
(11)
The Commission calls on the acceding States to pursue vigorously the improvements that still need to
be made in the context of the political and economic criteria for membership and in relationship to
the adoption, implementation and enforcement of the acquis; the Commission will continue to
monitor the implementation of the commitments and obligations taken on by the acceding States,
and will assist them with the available instruments.
(12)
One of the objectives of the European Union is to deepen the solidarity between their peoples while
respecting their history, their culture and their traditions.
(13)
Enlargement of the European Union through the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus,
Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia will help to strengthen safeguards for
peace and freedom in Europe.
(14)
Enlargement is a continuous, inclusive and irreversible process; the accession negotiations with
Bulgaria and Romania should continue on the basis of the same principles that have guided the
negotiations so far, and the results already achieved in these negotiations should not be brought into
question.
HEREBY DELIVERS A FAVOURABLE OPINION:
on the accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of
Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta,
the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic.
This opinion is addressed to the Council of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 19 February 2003.
Günter
VERHEUGEN
The Commissioner responsible for enlargement
For the Commission
Romano
PRODI
The President
EN
4
Official Journal of the European Union
23.9.2003
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the application by the Czech Republic to become a member of the European Union
(AA-AFNS 1-6 — C5-0115/2003 — 2003/0901(AVC))
(Assent procedure)
The European-Parliament,
— having regard to the application by the Czech Republic to become a member of the European Union,
— having regard to the Council's request for Parliament's assent pursuant to Article 49 of the EU Treaty
(C5-0115/2003),
— having regard to the Commission's opinion (COM(2003) 79),
— having regard to the draft Treaty on the Accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the
Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the
Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the
European Union,
— having regard to Rules 86 and 96(6) of its Rules of Procedure,
— having regard to its resolution of 9 April 2003 on the conclusions of the negotiations on enlargement
in Copenhagen (
1
),
— having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common
Security and Defence Policy (A5-0089/2003),
A. whereas the conditions for the admission of applicant countries and the adjustments that their
accession will involve have been included in the draft Treaty on Accession, and whereas Parliament
must be consulted if substantial changes are made to that text,
B. whereas this assent will not determine its position on the adjustment of the financial perspectives to
cater for enlargement according to point 25 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999
between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and
improvement of the budgetary procedure (
2
), and whereas the figures entered in Annex XV of the
draft Treaty on Accession constitute the minimum threshold necessary for the adjustment of the
financial perspective,
1. Gives its assent to the application by the Czech Republic to become a member of the European Union;
2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission, the governments and
parliaments of the Member States and of the Czech Republic.
EN
23.9.2003
Official Journal of the European Union
5
(
1
) P5_TA(2003)0168.
(
2
) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.