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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8245
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 38
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/enlargement

Visegrad Group does not want second class membership status

Brussels, 01/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Meeting on Saturday in Esztergom in Hungary, the Heads of Government of the four Visegrad Group countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia) categorically rejected the possibility that their countries receive second class membership status within the enlarged European Union. They fear some candidate countries would be net contributors to the Community budget from the date of accession and also that they would not fully benefit from direct farm aid until ten years after accession. The new Hungarian Prime Minister, Peter Medgyessy, told the press "we all agree the transition period must be shortened considerably". "New entrants should be given equal chances to those already in the Union", added Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, cited by the Reuters Agency. Mr Miller, however, stressed that Poland is ready to negotiate seriously and to keep to the timetable set for enlargement.

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