The official position of Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Party on the state of Hungary's accession negotiations with the European Union

Dátum: 2002-11-07 15:53:00, eredeti URL: http://archiv.fidesz.hu/index.php?Cikk=5602
KCMDB-be feltöltve: 2024-05-04 17:53:18.628109, Feltöltő: fidesz_hu_scraper_v2

On 4 November, Foreign Minister László Kovács informed the representatives of the parliamentary parties about the recent Copenhague summit of the European Union and the candidate countries in the framework of the Integration Grand Committee, established on 19 September.

The meeting revealed that Hungary's positions have deteriorated at the summit. The system of safeguards projected to be introduced by the European Union have been extended to span over a period of three years. These safeguards, extended to cover also internal market and third pillar issues, would unilaterally enable current members to bypass normal judicial procedures in implementing punitive measures against new members. Fidesz finds it unacceptable that the scheme, potentially seriously harmful to Hungarian economic interests, be extended to a period of three years. Speaking on behalf of junior coalition partner SZDSZ, but also as Chairman of the Parliament's European Integration Committee, István Szent-Iványi referred to the extension of the safeguards as one-sided, discriminatory and unacceptable. Fidesz finds it therefore inconceivable that Prime Minister Medgyessy and Foreign Minister Kovács have been citing arguments in favour of the safeguards scheme.

The above mentioned statements by coalition politicians indicate an apparent lack of strategy, confusion and hesitation with regard to several EU-related issues. Fidesz demands a firmer, more determined and more consistent conduct on behalf of the government in the last leg of the accession negotations than the one experienced so far. No concept has been elaborated on how the government intends to achieve the shortening of the transitional period for the levelling of direct agricultural payments from 2013 to 2006. Fidesz is also expecting an official Hungarian viewpont on the motion made by the Polish prime minister in elaborating common position in selected accession issues for the candidate countries. Fidesz is still waiting for the government's propositions on how to fulfill the political commitments made by the cabinet in the joint declaration of 19 September (for details, see Fidesz Position Paper of 24 September 2002).

On the other hand, Fidesz fully supports the government's efforts to represent a determined position in preserving the tax allowances enjoyed by multinational companies based in Hungary.

Fidesz requests the government to inform the parliamentary parties on the progress of the accession negotiations more regularly, preferably on a weekly basis. To that end, Fidesz proposes that the procedural minutes of the Grand Committee be finalised.

Budapest, 6 November 2002