The Commission has indicated which Chapters of the "EU acquis" it is proposing for the EU to kick off membership negotiations with the six new applicant states.

Brussels, 09/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has proposed that between now and the end of the Portuguese Presidency (end of June), the EU begin membership negotiations with the six new applicant countries (the "Helsinki Group") on the following chapters of the "EU acquis":

Romania. 5 chapters: Small and medium-sized enterprises, Research, Education, Foreign Relations, Common Foreign and Security Policy (PESC);

Bulgaria. 6 chapters: Small and medium-sized enterprises, Research, Education, Foreign Relations, PESC, Culture and Audiovisual Policies;

Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. 8 chapters: Small and medium-sized enterprises, Research, Education, Foreign Relations, PESC, Competition, Statistics, Culture and Audiovisual Policies;

Malta. 8 chapters: Small and medium-sized enterprises, Research, Education, Foreign Relations, PESC, Industry, Telecommunications, Culture and Audiovisual Policy.

The Council Presidency will decide which and how many chapters will be addressed in the negotiations with the three applicant countries on the basis of Council discussions to be held in the next few days. The EU is expected to agree on the timetable of the negotiations at the March 15 COREPER meeting, in order to formally inform the applicant countries at the first deputy-level negotiating meetings, which will be held on March 28. On the same day, applicant countries are expected to present their negotiating positions for the relevant chapters. The negotiations will cover 31 chapters in all.