Commission Report (2002): Czech Republic
In its 1997
Opinion on the Czech Republic`s application for EU membership, the Commission
concluded:
``The Czech Republic can be regarded as a functioning market economy; it
should be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces in the
Union in the medium term provided that change at the enterprise level is
accelerated''.
In its 2001 Regular Report, the Commission found that:
``The Czech Republic is a functioning market economy. Provided that it
makes further progress towards medium-term fiscal consolidation and completes
the implementation of structural reforms, it should be able to cope with the
competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the near
term''.
In examining the economic developments in the Czech Republic since the
Opinion, the Commission`s approach was guided by the June 1993 conclusions of
the Copenhagen European Council, which stated that membership of the Union
requires:
- the existence of a functioning market economy;
- the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within
the Union.
In the analysis below, the Commission has followed the methodology
applied in the Opinion and the previous Regular Reports. The analysis in this
year`s Regular Report takes stock of the developments since the Opinion was
drafted.
© European Commission
|
