Brussels, 24/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Several candidate countries of the Helsinki Group (the group composed of countries that began their accession negotiations at the beginning of this year: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta) made, on Tuesday, a further major step forward in their effort to catch-up the six applicant countries of the Luxembourg group (which began negotiations in March 1998, by completing talks on several chapters of acquis communautaire. In the new round at deputy level, on Tuesday, Malta and Slovakia closed three new chapters, which brings their total to 10 and 9 chapters respectively, completed after only 8 months of negotiations (they have also reached the level of Poland). Lithuania and Latvia closed negotiations on two chapters, and Bulgaria and Romania on one each.
"Lithuania has the firm determination to join its two neighbouring countries of the first group - Poland and Estonia - as soon as possible", stressed the chief negotiator for Lithuania on Tuesday. His Latvian counterpart has similar ambitions. The chief Slovakian negotiator pointed out his country's wish to see "several" other chapters closed in coming weeks. Bulgaria and Romania say they are also ready to complete talks on some chapters.
The next negotiation meeting, at deputy level (the second and last under French Presidency) will be held mid-November, followed one week later by a ministerial meeting with the "Helsinki Six". EUROPE will publish in tomorrow's edition a schematic summary of the chapters opened or closed for each country.