The European Union's executive commission this afternoon gave its final green light to 10 countries due to enter the bloc next year, saying all would be ready to join on schedule on May 1st, 2004.
But in its final report on their progress towards membership, the European Commission warned of serious shortcomings in all states which, unless resolved, will deny them the full benefits of membership.
"The Commission is confident that enlargement will take place on May 1st, 2004 under good conditions," the Comprehensive Monitoring Report said.
Despite saying it had not encountered any major surprises, the Commission will still send warning letters to all 10 countries - Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta - highlighting specific shortcomings.
The report also told Turkey that the absence of a deal to reunite Cyprus, of which Turkey has occupied the northern third since 1974, would be a "serious obstacle" to Ankara's hopes of opening accession negotiations.