President Kwasniewski meets with Visegrad group to boost support to join EU

The Presidents of the states which form the Visegrad group, (the Czech and Slovak republics, Hungary and Poland) met in in the Czech town of Czas tolowice to discuss ways to boost sagging public support to join the E uropean Union. The four Central European states met along with six Med iterranean states that are also seeking to become members in 2004. Tough membership conditions, including a ban on working in the EU for up to seven years coupled with lower than expected farming subsidies have soured the mood in applicant countries. In the EU, enlargement has never been popular as many fear an influx of low cost workers and crime from the poorer states. President Aleksander Kwasniewski called on the Irish not to delay the enlargement process, while Czech President, Vaclav Havel said that Visegrad group should take steps to, "Develop efforts to convince citizens of EU states about the general, long-term historical importance of this enla rgement process". President Kwasniewski said that the presidents agreed it may be best to hold EU entry referendums in succession, hoping that ap provals in some countries will raise support in others. (Reuters)