Luxembourg, 10/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, announced on Tuesday that the Commission would propose in its "composite paper" (which will accompany the progress reports that will be publish 8 November) to complete accession negotiations with the first candidate countries somewhere in 2002, in order to enable the first accession during 2003. "2003 is an absolutely realistic target date", said Mr Verheugen in Luxembourg following the EU/Poland Association Council. Sat besides Wlasyslaw Bartosziewski, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Verheugen was however not able to indicate if Poland was among the first entrants. "Everything depends of the progress in the candidate countries themselves", said Mr Verheugen. However the Commission wanted to underline that "contrary to the public image that we give to Poland, the progress achieved until now by this country are admirable, in all the fields". Thus it is complete nonsense to talks of delay in the preparations for the accession preparation, he said.
For Mr Bartosziewski, there is no doubt that Poland will be ready in 2003. "We are convinced that we will be able to join in 2003", he said. However, "to marry, you have to be two", and in his opinion the Member States are not all showing the same desire to carry out this marriage as quickly as possible. Though he added that most of the Member States have made a positive assessment of our efforts to transpose the Community acquis".
Pierre Moscovici, French Minister for European Affairs, who Chaired the Association Council also drew a positive assessment of the preparation work made until now by the Polish government". Impressive progress since last year", he felt. At the same time, he underlined the importance that the EU 15 attach to the correct application and implementation of Community legislation, which implies sufficient human and financial resources", said Mr Moscovici.