Doc. 8974
5 February 2001

Need to narrow the wealth gap between countries in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Tallo and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only

the members who have signed it

1. Over a decade since the start of economic transition in central and eastern Europe, the achievements reached by different countries are shown to differ more and more widely. Some are approaching west European levels of wealth. Others progress more slowly. A third group, finally, face declining living standards and the prospect of economic crisis. The situation of the latter group is particularly worrying as it jeopardises stability in the countries concerned and in Europe as a whole.

2. Against this background it is urgent to learn both what the more successful transition countries do right and avoid doing wrong, and what the less successful countries may do wrong and not do right, especially in the area of ‘good governance’.

3. Following the Parliamentary Assembly’s three Conferences on “Progress of Economic Reform in Central and Eastern Europe” - Budapest in 1990, Helsinki in 1993 and Warsaw in 1996 – the Assembly must therefore engage in renewed analysis of these questions, with a view to assisting the least successful countries in their reform efforts and thereby narrow the wealth gap between countries in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : 1

Tallo, Estonia, SOC

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Elo, Finland, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Gülek, Turkey, SOC

Kresak, Slovakia, LDR

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Ojuland, Estonia, LDR

Ragnarsdottir, Iceland, EDG

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC

Svoboda, Czech Republic, EPP/CD

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group