17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has handed the Council its draft common positions for accession negotiations on the chapter of regional policy for Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and the Czech Republic. It intends forwarding its proposals for the six most advanced countries in accession negotiations (Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Latvia, Slovakia and Malta) by the end of the month. "the fact of having transmitted these proposals means that the Commission considers that the countries in question will be ready to manage the structural funds, with adequate administrative and regional structures, at the time of their accession, that of course does not mean that there will be no problems to settle", explains a Commission spokesperson. The Spanish Presidency of the Council, following the roadmap for enlargement, hopes that the Fifteen will manage to decide on their common position on the chapter of regional policy, as for agriculture and the budget, by the end of June.