Brussels, 03/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The outgoing Belgian Presidency held a last minute extraordinary negotiating meeting on 21 December with most of the twelve applicant countries, (at deputy level) in order, notably, to present them with the common negotiating position of the Fifteen on the on the transport chapter. Adoption of this common position had been placed into deadlock by Austria, demanding a solution to the problem of road transit beyond 31 December 2003 (date at which the current "eco-points" system is to expire), but on 21 December, Austria put an end to the deadlock following adoption by the Commission (on 20 December) of a regulation prolonging the current system of eco-points to end-2004 (see EUROPE of 21 December, p.5).
Both the Belgian Presidency and the European Commission welcomed the outcome of the 21 December negotiations, that enabled four candidates (Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia) to close talks on transport, and Poland to close the very sensitive chapter of the free movement of workers. Here is an overview: - Slovenia was able to confirm its position in the lead, closing the chapter on transport (it was the only candidate of which the EU had not requested a transitional period for cabotage). 21 chapters closed out of 31; - Hungary concluded on transport (24 chapters closed in all), without securing all the exemptions requested (notably in the field of airlines); - Poland completed negotiations on the free movement of workers, having accepted (as most other candidates already have) that the current Member States should have the right to implement, under certain conditions, a maximum 7-year transitional period; - the Czech Republic rejected the EU's offer regarding transport and is continuing negotiations to secure a better result for cabotage (24 chapters closed); - Slovakia closed financial control, but is pursuing negotiations on transport (22 closures); - Latvia closed transport (23 chapters closed); Lithuania closed two chapters: transport, financial control (23 chapters closed); - Malta closed the chapter on the free movement of capital by securing a permanent exemption prohibiting Community citizens non-residents to purchase secondary residencies (20 closures); - Bulgaria was able to close the chapter on industrial policy (14 closures).