Poland and nine more ready for EU membership says official report by the EC

Poland has met the requirements of becoming a member of the European Union, according to an official report to be presented by the European Commission (EC) on October 16. As Rzeczpospolita reveals, quoting high-ranking EC representatives, Poland, along with nine of the other candidates (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta) has been considered ready to join the EU. "I must admit I am not surprised by such an evaluation. We have done a great deal to make this report favorable for us," said European Integration Minister, Danuta Huebner. The report greatly improves the chances of the ten candidates joining the Union in 2004, provided they can accept the financial terms of the enlargement, to be announced in November. Romania and Bulgaria will have to wait until 2007. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3) M.K.