Brussels, 10/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - European Council President Anders Fogh Rasmussen commented on the presentation of the Commission's reports on progress made in candidate countries saying he expected a decision to be taken on accession by ten new members during the European Council of Copenhagen in December. Speaking to the press, the Danish Prime Minister expressed surprise at the criticism made by some ambassadors of candidate countries (especially the Hungarian ambassador), who felt that the Danish Presidency had not sufficiently communicated with them. "This is the first time I've had the occasion to see this kind of criticism", remarked Mr Rasmussen, reported by the Ritzau Agency. He said "I've used a great deal of time and energy to meet all of my colleagues from the candidate nations". As for being reproached for not informing them about the new strengthened "safeguard clause" (see yesterday's EUROPE, pages 4 and 5), Mr Rasmussen specified that the Presidency could not discuss it with candidate countries as it was still the subject of internal debate within the EU.
Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Danuta Huebner, for her part, felt that the insertion of such a clause in the accession treaties could prove to the advantage of Poland which, when a full member, could invoke it in turn, if necessary. She said the Commission's report was a "good document" and noted that the Polish action plan corresponds exactly to the recommendations made in it. "It is an objective report", said Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda, who considered the Commission's document to be the "Czech Republic's ticket for entry to the European Union". Slovakian Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda he said in particular that Slovakia would combat corruption: the situation at home is not very good, "but it's no worse than with our neighbours". The report on Slovenia is "very positive", remarked Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek, for whom, "from now, our membership depends on factors we do not control", alluding to the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty. The need to combat corruption was also recognised by Andris Kesteris, Latvia's chief negotiator (who remarked that society in his country was aware of the problem) and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, whereas Estonia's Prime Minister Siim Kallasi said that his government would now focus on the problems of administrative capacities and fish catches. Satisfaction too for the spokesman of the Cypriot Government, Mikalis Papapetru, who spoke of an important day for Cyprus' "history", and who remarked, over Turkey (according to EFE of Nicosia) that: "Cyprus would have no objection to a date being mentioned if Turkey were to decide to respond more tangibly to requirements regarding the political criteria and contribute to the settlement of the conflict in Cyprus".