News

I SESSION
I thank my colleague and friend minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz for this initiative. I have strong personal feelings for Warsaw ever since I spent seven most interesting years as Lithuanian ambassador to Poland and which were marked by the birth and maturing of our strategic partnership. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I will comment on all three topics of this session in one intervention. State and perspective for the conclusion of accession negotiationsSince Laeken it is clear that the European Union's working hypothesis for the enlargement in 2004 is ten countries. It is so because the accession negotiations have been managed well. European Commission deserves recognition for designing a strategic plan - the roadmap - and for adhering to it. Today, largely owing to this strategy, we have strong reasons to believe that negotiations will end in Copenhagen. We also have to support the efforts of Bulgaria and Romania to pursue their own timetables of accession. We should welcome the Commission to proposal to elaborate an enhanced pre-accession strategy and road-map for the candidate countries unable to finish accession negotiations this year. Discussion on the results of Spanish PresidencyToday many admit that Spanish Presidency has been a positive surprise. It has supported enlargement despite national sensitivities. For me, this is a classic case of giving supremacy to the interests of the Community. In fact, Spaniards have been good not only in enlargement. Their entire presidency programme has been ambitious and well handled. Yet one month before the conclusion Spain is already a candidate for a good grade for its leadership. In Seville we shall applaud Prime-minister Aznar and Minister Pique for a good job.Expectations concerning the European Council in Seville (June 21-22).Certainly, the agenda in the run-up to Seville has some unfinished business. On the enlargement front, we should encourage the European Union to adopt its negotiating position on agriculture. It is complicated by the anticipation of the forthcoming proposals on CAP reform but I hope these tracks will not cross prematurely. Seville will also feature monitoring reports on our administrative and judicial capacities. I expect that the findings of those reports will be encouraging and will prepare the European Council for the final decisions concerning enlargement of the Union later this year.Besides enlargement, I shall be particularly interested in what is reported to the European Council on the proceedings of the Convention on the Future of the Europe.Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
II SESSION
Prospects for the Danish PresidencyI have all faith in the Danish presidency and its unequivocal support for enlargement. If all goes well, in Copenhagen we shall raise glasses of champagne. We have to see what happens until then. For example, what is expected of the Commission's reports and then of the Summit in Brussels on October 21? Denmark seems to be intending to use the period until Brussels for finding solutions to all major issues and to leave the time remaining until Copenhagen for fine-tuning and last improvements. Danes have made plans for us to meet more often in the ministerial accession conference - all testifying to their aim to finish negotiations successfully and on time. Lithuania is also interested in the parts of the Danish presidency programme other than enlargement. For example, we have high expectations about agenda in the Northern Dimension. Co-operation in the final phase of accession negotiationsCommon financial framework for the accessionThe remaining issues are, as planned, a financial package. Here, again, the Commission has made an objectively balanced proposal. It may not suit everyone's wishes but a final compromise will eventually have to satisfy the interests not only and not so much of individual countries as those of the Community. I think it is realistic to assume that the final compromise will be little different from the Commission's proposal. Much will depend on how it is presented in our countries - as a glass half full or half empty? There are, however, areas where we can jointly seek improvement. Among those are the length of phasing in period for direct payments, quotas, payments to the EU budget. My country has a specific issue in negotiations - the closure of Ignalina nuclear power plant. It is too heavy a burden for Lithuania. I am convinced, however, that a good solution will be found. We will need support and understanding of other future EU member states, because financial assistance of the Union for the decommissioning will need to last over the long period of time. Finally, we may be seeing re-opening of chapters. Sale of land is a specific case in point but not the only one. It is unfortunate that commitments need to be revised to the detriment of the Single Market, often just because someone else seems to have got a better deal even though it may run counter to the economic logic. But I understand the sensitivities from which no one - including my country - is immune. If stepping back helps us advance more - so let it be. But we shall have to feel reasonable limits. This is another area where we could potentially co-ordinate or at least share our tactics. As for joint statement - it is acceptable to us. Thank you, Mr. Minister.