Sochaux, 23/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Foreign Minister level session of the countries members of the European Conference (the Fifteen Union countries, twelve negotiating applicant countries, Turkey and Switzerland) took place on Thursday, in Sochaux (France), and allowed for an exchange of views on two major topics: the prospects for winding up the IGC in Nice and the state of accession negotiations.
Regarding the IGC, Mr. Moscovici said that the applicant countries had not provided new ideas or remarks substantially different from those already expressed over the past few months. As for enlargement, all applicant countries welcomed the strategy the Commission has published but all placed emphasis on the fact that negotiations would have to end as quickly as possible with those countries that were ready. A public debate was held in the afternoon, in which several ministers of applicant countries took part, as did several other prominent people, and, notably Jacques Delors. EUROPE will return to the subject.