Poland made progress today in its attempt to join the European Union saying it remains firmly on-track to become a full-fledged member in 2004.
Today's negotiating session between EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from candidate countries also brought a big leap forward for Bulgaria, which voiced frustration at not being included in the next wave of EU expansion.
"Poland is back among the leaders. This has been confirmed today," Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz told a news conference in Luxembourg.
Cimoszewicz, echoing remarks of other candidate countries, played down the deadlock among EU member states over the scope of farm aid to be offered to candidates once they join.
"I would not exaggerate the postponement of this debate. There is no need to talk of delays of enlargement," Cimoszewicz said, commenting on EU member states' failure earlier today to agree on a common negotiating position in farm talks.
Poland, the biggest of the 12, mostly east European, applicants countries is struggling to revive its stagnant economy and to combat unemployment, now at 18 percent. It fears economic hardship could scupper a referendum next year on EU membership.
Warsaw completed negotiations on fisheries and transport today, two of some 30 policy areas, or chapters, that need to be agreed before any country joins the EU.
That increased the its number of closed chapters to 25, catching up with the Czech Republic and overtaking Hungary, which has agreed 24 chapters.
Hungary and the Czech Republic will not close any chapters at this week's session, which continues on Tuesday. Bulgaria, viewed as a laggard in Brussels, narrowed the gap with other candidates for EU membership by concluding talks on three policy areas to bring its total to 20 closed chapters.
The EU aims to conclude negotiations by the end of the year with up to 10 candidates, but says Bulgaria and Romania will not be among them. Malta has completed 22 chapters while Romania has only 11.
The EU has said it could conclude accession talks by the end of this year with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Cyprus, Poland and Malta.
Cyprus closed the competition chapter. Slovakia and Latvia were due to conclude talks in the politically sensitive area of justice and home affairs, which embraces police cooperation, fighting terrorism and illegal immigration.
Lithuania was expected to reach a deal on Tuesday on closing its controversial Ignalina nuclear power plant to remove the biggest obsacle on the Baltic country's path to EU membership.