Commissioner Romano Prodi urges flexibility for Copenhagen summit

The head of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, asked leaders of the 15 E U member states to show generosity, however in accordance with "already exis ting budget limits" during the Copenhagen summit, which is to finally decide on financial terms for new countries joining the Union. "This will be a toug h summit. However these matters are of such importance that they should be d ecided by heads of states only," said Prodi before flying to Copenhagen. He added that the fact that the significance of EU enlargement is starting to w in over particular interests was a cause for optimistism. He hoped that all participant countries would show the necessary elasticity and will to compro mise. This also applies to EU members like Italy, Portugal and Austria, whic h are trying to use the negotiations to improve their own significance and c onditions of membership within the Union. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) M.M.