Brussels, 30/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On the afternoon of 27 November, COREPER debated the Commission's progress reports on the candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey and FYROM) and the potential candidates: Iceland, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. The idea is to prepare conclusions for the External Relations Council of 7-8 December. Although enlargement does not yet feature on the agenda, it may also be debated at the European Council of 10-11 December. For example, Cyprus is calling for the leaders to take note that Turkey has still "done nothing" to come into line with the commitments it took at the beginning of its accession negotiations, particularly as regards extending the customs union to Cyprus (Ankara protocol). In a letter the 26 other heads of state and government, which was distributed at the special European summit of 19 November, the president of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, called for the 27 to take definitive "measures" against Ankara. The letter does not specify any measures Nicosia may have in mind, but Cypriot sources have stated that these should have a "concrete impact" on the accession talks, such as the suspension of additional chapters (eight chapters have already been suspended since December 2006). The subject is extremely likely to be discussed by the foreign affairs ministers on 7 December, but the Swedish Presidency has no plans to raise the issue at the summit as yet.
EUROPE has also found out that the Commission's opinion on Iceland's application will not be ready before the European Council of December. This means that the country will have to wait until at least the summit of March or June 2010 before getting a date for its accession negotiations to start. (H.B./transl.fl)