Gothenburg, 18/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - Poland is very pleased with the conclusions on enlargement, Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek told the press. He said this was because, for the first time, the Heads of State and Government had made it clear that their "aim" (and not just their "hope") was to conclude negotiations by end 2002. This means that the EU is ready to maintain the rate of negotiations and to adhere strictly to the ambitious "roadmap" time frame. Mr Buzek noted the "major progress" made in internal preparations for accession ("the European Commission keeps on confirming this") and restated his conviction that Poland would be among the contenders that may conclude by the end of next year. "We are doing what we have to do; we shall not need political support", stressed the Prime Minister, alluding to the statement by German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, which ruled out any form of "political rebate" (see our special edition dated 17 June). Answering questions on the risk that Poland may possibly not be ready to conclude negotiations end 2002, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, Polish Foreign Minister, replied: "We have always wanted a deadline for the end of negotiations. Now that we have one, don't start asking us whether we shall be able to stick to it or not". Mr Buzek noted, moreover, that he expected the Belgian EU President would, during the second half of this year, begin membership talks (if only preliminary or exploratory) on "hot" issues such as agriculture and regional policy, despite the fact that according to the "roadmap" these issues will not be dealt with until the second half of 2002, under Spanish Presidency.
It should be noted, moreover, that Mr Buzek began his press conference with, at his side, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Mr Ahern wished to explain to the Polish government and people that the rejection of the Treaty of Nice by the Irish people is not directed "against enlargement". He said he wished to reassure them that Ireland and the Irish people are in favour of enlargement.
Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman said he was "very, very pleased" with the result of the Summit. The signal given by the Fifteen is not a "big jump" but it does prove that the EU wants to make "gradual progress" in the process. Enlargement is now "irreversible, there is no going back". In addition, for the first time, the EU is not only speaking of the end of negotiations in 2002 in terms of a "hope" but of an "aim". This difference is "extremely important", said Mr Zeman, and its impact on the dynamics of negotiations must not be under-estimated. Chief negotiator for the Czech Republic Pavel Telicka even affirmed for his part that the declaration of Gothenburg is a "commitment" on the part of the Fifteen that "we shall be able to take part in the elections of 2004 if we are ready".
Slovakian Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda also felt that the "Slovakian government and people can be pleased" with the Gothenburg Declaration. "The Union considers that enlargement is irreversible, and it has established clear rules and precise aims for the next two years", he said. This should allow Slovakia to fully make up for the time it lost at the beginning of the process so that it can rejoin the EU with the first group of countries in 2004, said Mr Dzurinda. "We shall be ready to complete negotiations end 2002 and join in 2004", he stressed.
Slovenia, speaking through its European Affairs Minister Igor Bavcar, gave a favourable welcome to the declaration by the Fifteen. In his view, the framework sketched out by the Gothenburg conclusions will allow Slovenia to maintain the sustained rate in negotiations and in closure of various chapters.
Prime Ministers of Latvia and Lithuania, Andris Berzins and Rolandas Paksas, both said they were confident that the "Gothenburg signal" would give the negotiation process further impetus that would result in talks being speeded up. The dates set by the Fifteen (2002 for the end of negotiations, 2004 for accession) correspond, moreover, to the timetable for internal preparations established by the Latvian government, said Mr Berzins.
"I would never have thought that one week could bring so many happy things", declared Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after the summit. "This very tiring but very happy week" began, for Hungary, with the conclusion of negotiations on the freedom of movement for persons and capital, before continuing with account being taken of four Hungarian demands for the conclusions reached by Gothenburg: the reiteration of a move forward in talks in relation to the merits of each; the confirmation that the roadmap is "realistic"; the affirmation that the aim is to conclude negotiations in 2002 with the most advanced candidates; and the wish to see the first new members take part in elections of the European Parliament in 2004.
The support of the whole of the Hungarian political class, trade unions and employers plays a role in this success, stressed the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Romanian President Ion Ilescu said he was "very pleased with the conclusions, which underline the irreversible nature of enlargement, which is in the common interest of the current Member States and of the applicant countries". Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar also welcomed the results of the Summit, but did point out that he expected Member States to clearly announce their negotiation positions. His Foreign Minister, Toomas Ilves, stressed that Estonia above all awaited clarification about the provisions that each country plans to set for the free movement of workers. "I cannot explain to the Estonian population why the nations of countries that are not members of the EU, such as Norway, can work freely in the EU, whereas this will not be the case for the new members for another seven years", he told the press. "The countries of the Luxembourg group have decided to continue working together whatever is said", he also declared …"But", took up his Prime Minister, "this does not mean that we are against the principle of judging everyone according to his merits, on condition that the criteria are the same for all".
Kasoulides: Gothenburg message is far stronger than that from Nice
Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, who accompanied President Glafcos Clerides, told EUROPE that the message sent from Gothenburg was "far stronger than that from Nice" and that this "gives us increased responsibility" to complete talks by the end of 2002. Mr Kasoulides hoped that it would be possible to move on from here to a solution on the political question of Cyprus, while adding that, even if Turkey maintains its current stance, he was confident that Cyprus could join the EU even so. The violent demonstrations in Gothenburg and the rejection of Nice by the Irish are symptomatic, he said, of a "sort of ignorance" on the part of the public concerning the way in which the EU works, which shows that it is necessary in Member States and in applicant countries to "beware of the volatile nature" of public opinion.