Regular round of EU accession negotiations at ministerial level held in Brussels [12 Dec 2001]

On 12 December 2001 regular round of the negotiations at the ministerial level on the accession of Latvia to the European Union took place in Brussels. The Latvian delegation at the meeting was headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Indulis Berzins. On behalf of the EU the negotiations were led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Mr Louis Michel, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Mr Guenter Verheugen also participated in the meeting.

In the beginning of the meeting the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Commissioner exchanged views about the progress in the EU accession process of Latvia as reflected in the European Commission Progress Report. It was concluded that Latvia's achievements while preparing for EU membership and the enlargement guidelines defined in the new Strategy Paper of the EU create the conditions for Latvia to be able to join the EU in 2004.

The parties summarised the progress achieved in the accession negotiations during the Belgian EU presidency. The meeting affirmed the agreement reached earlier at the level of Chief Negotiators on closure of the negotiations in five chapters "Competition Policy", "Fisheries", "Environment", "Customs Union" and "Financial Control".

During the meeting a decision was taken to close the chapter "Energy". In this chapter Latvia acquired a transition period until the end of 2009 for gradual formation of oil product stocks equal to 90 days consumption. The reserves are needed to ensure Latvia's energy security, however, they will be formed so that no particular difficulties for the country's economy in general are caused. The EU also recognised Latvia's special status concerning gas market liberalisation.

Latvia and the EU continued negotiations in the chapter "Co-operation in the Fields of Justice and Home Affairs". The EU side noted the considerable progress made by Latvia in this sector, particularly in introduction of Schengen requirements. At the same time the need to retain or even force the pace was noted, especially in consolidation of the court system. Decision on closure of this chapter could be taken in the first half of next year after Latvia has provided additional information.

The meeting also discussed possibilities of closing in the near future the negotiations in the chapters "Transport Policy" and "Telecommunications and Information Technologies" in which Latvia has done all the necessary preparatory work and a slight delay is only due to the EU side. The Latvian side pointed to the necessity to additionally evaluate the solutions offered by the EU regarding application of excise duty to cigarettes in the chapter "Tax Policy".

As to the chapters planned to be discussed in detail during the Spanish EU presidency, the conclusions drawn by the European Commission about financial adequacy of the current financial framework of the EU and the decision to base the negotiations on the existing acquis allow to achieve considerable progress in such areas as "Agriculture", "Regional Policy and Co-ordination of Structural Instruments" and "Financial and Budgetary Provisions".

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