Brussels, 22/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - At his press conference at the end of Saturday's European Conference (see above), Louis Michel had to clarify to journalists words the President of the European Council, Guy Verhofstadt had spoken the day before regarding the ambitions of the Belgian Presidency to manage to draw up, at the Laeken Summit, a list of candidate countries with the most chance of completing their accession negotiations by the end of 2002. (see EUROPE of 20 October, p.5).
"There will be no list and nor will there by any classification (among candidates) in Laeken". Michel stressed, for whom Mr. Verhofstadt had been "misunderstood". "In Laeken, we have simply decided to have an in-depth reading of the Commission's regular reports" (which will be published for all candidates on 13 November). On the basis of these reports, the Heads of State and Government will "make a detailed analysis" of progress made so far by all candidate countries, as well as efforts still to be made, said Mr. Michel. "It is not therefore a question of drawing up a list of candidates (according to their level of preparedness), but of having a reading, a discussion and an in-depth evaluation of the Commission's reports. This is a strong signal that we are taking a close interest in this very serious exercise", Michel went on. But he did acknowledge that even without drawing up a formal list, the Laeken Summit should already indicate - through this reading and in-depth analysis of progress - which are the countries with chances of concluding negotiations in 2002. "There will be no list, but we shall be very precise" in the Laeken Conclusions, he said.