At its September session, the European Parliament will vote on progress achieved by each of the 12 countries candidates over the past year, progress will be assessed on the basis of draft reports that its Foreign Affairs Committee adopted.

Citations:

Poland: MEPs back the European Commission's position of not allocating all direct aid to Polish farmers upon accession, but to practice gradual allocation, or a phasing-in of aid.

Hungary: should be offered a firm date for concluding negotiations, so as to avoid discontent among public opinion. The report also calls for the number of Hungarian MEPs to be increased to 22, remedying the discrimination that emerged at the Nice Summit.

Romania: has still much a great deal of progress to make regarding children's rights and the situation of minorities.

Cyprus: fully meets the political and economic criteria and has made significant progress in adopting the acquis communautaire.

Estonia: The report welcomes progress made in the adoption of the acquis, especially regarding the environment, whereas it expresses its concern at social and economic problems in the northeast of the country.

Latvia: has made great efforts but has still to improve its legal and administrative systems and step-up the fight against corruption.

Lithuania: has made satisfactory progress, notably in the protection of minorities, but must improve its police and legal institutions.

Bulgaria: has set a target date for ending negotiations in 2004, ambitious but not unrealistic. The report stresses the stability of the Bulgarian political system, but calls on the government to step-up its fight against corruption, and for the integration of minorities.

The Czech Republic: has stepped-up the rate of its reforms, and one may hope that it will join the EU in 2004. The Czech Republic is also urged to further tackle trafficking in women.

Malta: is well engaged on the path to membership, but the rapporteur deplores the fact that EU membership has far from unanimous support. The report also places emphasis on the importance of increased efforts concerning agricultural reforms and environmental legislation.

Slovakia: has made significant progress in restructuring its industrial and financial sectors, and in reforming its administration. The report calls on the government to implement tougher policy in combating discrimination and deplores the delays in adopting the acquis in financial control, the environment, justice, agriculture and home affairs.

Slovenia: has made great political and economic progress, but progress remains to be achieved regarding the transparency of rules relating to foreign investments and the conclusion of an agreement between the political parties on the country's regions.