Brussels, 25/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The second negotiating meeting at deputy level between the EU Member States and the six applicant states of the Helsinki group (Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria and Romania) was held on Thursday. Talks were not opened until February with these countries. On Friday (26 May) there will be meetings with the six candidate countries of the Luxembourg group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovenia and Cyprus), during which three new and particularly "tricky" chapters will be opened for negotiation: free movement of persons, budget, justice and home affairs. At the same time, some "former" chapters will be closed with some of the six countries in question.
We give below an overview of the results of Thursday's meeting with the Helsinki Group:
- Slovakia. Six of the eight chapters of acquis communautaire opened in March this year have been provisionally closed, namely: education, research, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), statistics, external relations, common foreign and security policy (CFSP). The two other chapters opened (competition policy and audiovisual/culture policy) should be the subject of further discussion.
- Latvia. Five of the eight chapters opened in March have been closed: education, research, statistics, SMEs, CFSP. The three remaining chapters (competition policy, external relations, audiovisual/cultural policy) require further specifications and clarifications.
- Lithuania. Identical situation for Latvia: the five same chapters were closed (education, research, SME, statistics, CFSP), while negotiations should be continued on the three remaining chapters (external relations, audiovisual/cultural policy, competition policy).
- Bulgaria. Four of six open chapters have been closed: research, education, SMEs, CFSP. The two remaining (external relations and audiovisual/cultural policy) require additional talks.
- Romania. Negotiations on all five chapters opened in March were closed on Thursday, namely: education, research, statistics, external relations, CFSP.
- Malta. Seven of the eight chapters opened were closed on Thursday: education, statistics, research, SMEs, external relations, CFSP, competition policy. A single chapter (audiovisual/Cultural policy) remains open for the time being.
