CONFERENCE OF THE CHAIRMEN OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION COMMITTEES FROM THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS OF THE SEECP PARTICIPATING STATES 

BUCHAREST, 24 - 25 MARCH 2005

 

FINAL DECLARATION

 

We, the Chairmen of the Foreign Policy and European Integration Committees from the National Parliaments of the participating States to the South-East European Cooperation Process, hereinafter SEECP, gathered in Bucharest on 24-25 March, 2005, 

Reaffirming our commitment to the basic principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter on Good Neighborly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe, adopted at the Summit of the Heads of State and Government, in Bucharest, on 17 February 2000,

Fully aware of the high responsibility of the National Parliaments in providing a solid legal basis aimed at developing a clear path towards the European integration of the SEECP States, as well as in stepping up the process of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in South-Eastern Europe,

Recalling the fruitful participation of members of the parliaments from the SEECP participating States at the Conference “Towards an Energy Community in South-East Europe”, held in Bucharest in October 2004,

Welcoming the progress made in the process of European integration by the SEECP States, be they EU acceding countries, countries preparing to open accession talks or countries participating in the Stabilization and Association Process,

 

Have declared as follows:

  1. For the first time ever in its long-standing history, the people of South-Eastern Europe are given the unique opportunity to be part of the European values and to bring their own contribution to the building up of the new, free and united Europe.

Our countries, fully aspiring towards EU membership, are determined to take full advantage of this historical opportunity, which opens up a new page of our people’s destiny.

  1. The experience of the recent years has clearly demonstrated that the Parliaments are called upon to play a growing role in the reform processes in South-East Europe. 

The need for the SEECP to have a strong parliamentary dimension becomes therefore obvious, considering SEECP’s role as a platform for the European integration of its Participating States, integration which stands as an ultimate guarantee of prosperity, stability and peace in South-Eastern Europe.

  1. We are confident at this stage that our parliamentarians have to take the lead in elaborating and implementing comprehensive programs for the harmonization of our countries’ national legislation with the acquis communautaire, as an essential contribution to the EU integration process.

At the same time, special attention should be given to enacting laws and regulations aimed at broadening the scope and forms of cooperation among SEE countries.

  1. A successful cooperation in South-Eastern Europe depends largely on the degree of understanding and support from the national public opinion. To this end, the SEECP members of parliaments have to commit themselves to better mobilize the potential and creative energy of the academic community, NGOs and the private sector in their respective countries.
  2. The participants are confident that the new pro-European stated policy of the Republic of Moldova will have a positive impact on the political environment in the Black Sea region, and they strongly believe that the observer status of the Republic of Moldova within the SEECP will be a catalyst for enhancing parliamentary cooperation between Republic of Moldova and SEECP Participating States. 

The participants welcome the first ever participation by a Georgian parliamentary delegation, as a special guest, which opens up new and solid opportunities for enforcing cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally, between the South-East European countries and the Black Sea States.

  1. The participants agree to enhance their interaction in the spirit of the present Declaration and the Plan of Action adopted thereby. 

The Declaration and the Plan of Action will be submitted to the attention of the next Conference of the Presidents of Parliaments from the SEECP Participating States.

We also resolve to bring these documents to the attention of our respective Parliaments and Governments.

 

 Adopted in Bucharest, on 25 March 2005.