Accession could be delayed to 2007 EU warns candidates

European Commission President Romano Prodi appealed to candidate countries yesterday to make concessions in order to ensure a smooth conclusion to accession talks in two weeks in Copenhagen. Moreover Denmark, currently holding the EU presidency, warned that failure to end negotiations at the December 12-13 summit could delay their EU entry until 2007. It has cr iticized some countries including Poland, the biggest candidate, for making unrealistic demands in the endgame talks on the value of future EU aid, especially for farmers. "I really try to underline...to all 10 candidates that in the last days we must reach compromises, we must reach agreements," Prodi told reporters after talks with President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia, one of the applicants. In a related development, the candidates have won a number of exemptions from EU food rules, in the same way that EU founding member France, for example, secured the right to produce its Camembert cheese from unpasteurised milk, although it cannot be sold abroad. For instance Poland will be allowed to sell internally its "oscypek" cheese, made from sheep milk. (Reuters) M.M.