French PM pegs 2002 as date for European Union readiness for expansion

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin promised the European Union (EU) would be ready to accept new members beginning 2002. That statement was presented during his meeting with Prime Ministers of Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, which took place on Thursday in Budapest. It was a one day informal summit devoted to solving current problems concerning EU expansion. It was emphasized 2002 is the only date, beginning from which candidate countries will have the right to join EU. The real date of each candidate country's access to European structures will depend on the speed of its preparations. (Rzeczpospolita, page A1) A.D.