Six of the 10 countries hoping to close accession talks at a European Union summit next week have conditionally accepted a financial package drawn up by EU president Denmark, an EU diplomat said today.
He did not name the countries, but sources have said Poland and Malta are proving the least willing to compromise in the final round of talks. Hungary and the Czech Republic have also sought more money for their farmers.
"Six countries are ready to accept the package, with the proviso that if the European Council [of EU leaders at the Copenhagen summit] agrees to improve the package for one country that they will improve it for all," the diplomat told reporters.
A few candidates have signalled they will hold out until the December 12th-13th summit in the hope of wringing last-minute concessions from the 15 EU heads of state and government.
The 10 countries hoping to close talks and to join on May 1st, 2004, are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
