Poland demands EU access dates to be set

Representatives of the Polish government and opposition demanded again that the European Union sets the date for its expansion. Head of the Office of the European Integration Committee (UKIE) Jacek Saryusz-Wolski said that Poland expects EU to follow the so-called Helsinki timetable and be ready to welcome new members from the end of 2002. At the same time, the EU foreign ministers said it was too early to anticipate the date when negotiations with the aspiring countries would end, yet alone the date of their accession. Some of the EU representatives said also that setting the date might be unfavourable for Poland, which is still one of the most advanced candidates and should be interested in a flexible timetable, as that could give it a chance to become an EU member at an earlier date than other candidates that are not so well prepared.