Luxembourg, 15/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The meeting of the Justice Ministers of the Fifteen, in Luxembourg on Monday, ended early evening with a meeting with ministers of candidate countries. Ministers discussed the drafting of guidelines for preparing the candidate countries for Schengen, that the Fifteen intend approving at the JHA Council of 21 and 22 November. It is a question of helping these countries adapt and of "keeping up the speed, there are no dates, no new requests", declared Danish Justice Minister Lene Espersen, noting that there had been "a little confusion" in the meeting as to the nature of these guidelines. "Even if the negotiating chapter is close, much remains to be done", she added. The Fifteen and the candidate countries also broached the question of the mutual recognition of court decisions. They, moreover, adopted a declaration on the safety of road transport, undertaking to exchange information on the situation and render motorway rest areas safe.
President-in-Office Lene Espersen began her press conference by declaring the Fifteen's full support for Finland, devastated by a murderous attack on Saturday. Ministers also joined the Presidency declaration on the attack in Bali, the EU urging Indonesia to spare no effort in finding and judging those responsible.
Member states, moreover, agreed to proceed with a joint assessment of their national systems for combating terrorism.