Speaking to Finnish ambassadors based in the EU member and applicant countries on Mon-day, January 14 in Helsinki Minister for Foreign Trade Jari Vilén underlined that     In Finland´s view, it is important to emphasize the objective criteria when completing the accession negotiations.    Apart from the negotiations themselves, the follow up of the fullfilment of commitments made by applicant countries is central, as well as the continuation of their reform policies.

According to Vilén, the newly launched Spanish EU presidency will play a decisive role in the completion of the enlargement negotiations. “During the spring the most difficult, financially weighty chapters will be dealt with: agriculture, structural fonds and regional policies, budget. Even preparations for the accession agreements are due to be started during the Spanish presidency.”

Minister Vilén said that creating a working administration and monitoring system in the applicant countries is a big challenge at this stage of the process. “ The negotiations have proceeded well, and we know that many of the questions still open can be solved fairly easily. But the applicant countries still have plenty of work to do in transferring the EU norms to their own legislation, and in their execution, as well as in completing their own reform processies”.

The final stage of the enlargement negotiations is expected to coincide with the Danish presidency next autumn. “ The present situation implies that in the best case the negotiations with 10 applicant countries could be completed by the end of 2002. This order would leave Bulgaria and Romania outside of the EU for the time being. It was agreed in Laeken, that in such a case an updated programme should be adopted for the countries continuing the negotiations and all chapters should be opened with them during 2002. The actual decisions would probably be made only in Copenhagen in December”, Vilén said.

“The enlargement of the EU is without any doubt in the interest of Finland and the Finns. The events of the past decade have shown once more that keeping peace and stability in Europe is not a matter-of- course.The accession of the applicant countries to the EU will strengthen human rights and respect of the rule of law on our continent, create prosperity and consolidate sustainable development”, said Vilén and reminded that the importance of the common rules and their application within an enlarged region cannot be overemphasized.

“The free movement will be eased and the gulf between the standards of living in the member and applicant countries will be evened out. At the same time, possibilities to combat international crime and to enhance protection and surveillance of environment will be improved in Europe.”