Luxembourg, 26/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU/Slovakia Association Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday welcomed progress made by Slovakia in its negotiations and which make it a serious candidate to join the EU as early as 2004. Slovakia - which only began negotiations in the Spring of 2000 - has already closed 17 of the 31 chapters to be negotiated. Two additional chapters (free movement of persons and capital) will be closed on Wednesday at a negotiating meeting in Brussels at deputy-level. "It is impressive to see how (Slovakia) has been able to catch up some more advanced countries", declared Anna Lindh, who chaired the Association Council. "Slovakia is living proof that the catch-up principle works", she stressed. Not surprising then that, in this context, Slovak Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan, also said he was "very satisfied with the speed and results of negotiations".
Much work, however, remains to be done in Slovakia. Thus, regarding the economic criteria for membership, the Association Council stressed the need to consolidate macroeconomic stability and to continue structural reforms without let-up in, notably, the banking sector, as well as privatization. Slovakia's administrative and institutional ability to implement the acquis communautaire still leaves much to be desired in a large number of sectors, whence the need to pay special attention to that. As for the political criteria, the Fifteen reiterated the importance they attached to Slovakia's democratic structures being rendered "irreversible". "We consider that democracy in Slovakia is stable and irreversible, but as it is only a recent development, the Union must recall the importance it attaches to this, said Lindh. The Commissioner for enlargement, Gunther Verheugen recalled the "defining" role that democratic change had played after the departure of Meciar. But, he warned, the "old political forces" are still there and any return to power on their part would doubtlessly create a major problem for the continuation of the accession process. In its common position handed to the Association Council, the EU also calls on the Slovak Government to rapidly transform its "good intentions" in view of improving the situation of the Roma living on its territory into political and legislative acts.
Regarding the "political dialogue" chapter, the Association Council discussed the international situation, going from Macedonia to Ukraine, noting a total convergence of views. "It may be said that, at this stage, there is a common foreign policy between the EU and Slovakia" Ms. Lindh told the press.