The European Union's Dutch presidency aims to keep this week's historic summit on opening accession talks with Turkey to a very tight, short agenda.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has written to fellow leaders indicating that the only working session dedicated to the enlargement will be held over dinner on Thursday evening.
Finalising agreements to admit Bulgaria and Romania and to open accession talks with Croatia and Turkey next year will be considered during the meeting. With its history of human rights abuses the admission of Turkey is the most controversial of the aspirant countries.
On Friday, leaders will meet the president of the European Parliament and welcome UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a special guest to discuss 21st century threats and challenges and meeting the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.
After that, leaders are due to discuss anti-terrorism measures, approve the final statement of the summit, hear a brief report on a Dutch initiative of public discussions on the European idea and, finally, meet the candidate countries.
The summit is due to end by lunchtime but diplomats said a prolonged wrangle over the wording of the final statement concerning Turkey could not be ruled out.