In its latest annual progress report on candidate countries, the European Commission revealed that 10 out of the 13 candidate countries were on track to complete their accession negotiations by the end of 2002.
This is in line with the recommendations of the European Council in Göteborg in June 2001, which foresaw new member states joining the Union in time for the next European Parliament elections, in June 2004.
Bulgaria and Romania are not expected to meet the 2002 timeframe because neither country are set to meet the economic criteria for accession - to be a functioning market economy and to be able to withstand the competitive pressures and market forces within the EU - in the near term.
The Commission proposed a "new stage" for a pre-accession strategy with Turkey, a candidate country which has not yet opened negotiations to join.

FT correspondents look at attitudes towards the European Union in accessing candidate countries.

Polish campaign against joining EU in full swing
Poland was always expected to be the trail-blazer for former eastern bloc economies joining the European Union. But the government of the largest applicant nation is about to launch a campaign to rally support for EU membership, after running into well-organised opposition.

Strong support for EU in candidate states
Support for European Union membership is generally strong in the 13 countries which have applied to join, although older people and those in rural areas are less enthusiastic than the population at large, according to a new survey.

Hungary leads the way to expanded EU
European Union enlargement talks received a boost after Hungary became the first of the candidate countries to complete negotiations on justice and home affairs, an increasingly sensitive issue following the September 11 attacks on the US.

EU throws down the Cyprus gauntlet
Some EU diplomats would rather not discuss it. Others shudder at the thought.
For Günter Verheugen, the European Union's enlargement commissioner, the issue is clear-cut. Cyprus' accession to the EU will not be held hostage to diplomatic caution or political intransigence by Turkey.

Estonians divided over benefits of EU accession
A recent poll revealed that the majority of Estonians are opposed to EU membership. The numbers have subsequently levelled, but even the hint of defeat in a referendum shocked the government, for which accession to the EU and Nato membership, are the main foreign policy goal.

Romanian workers look to Europe for change
Support for accession remains above 80 per cent in Romania, the highest level in the region. Many Romanians see the EU solely in terms of benefits without thinking of the possible costs - such as big job cuts at state-owned enterprises - which will be highlighted by next week's European Commission annual progress report on the enlargement process.

Romania to review block on adoptions
The Romanian government is setting up a commission to examine the cases of at least 3,500 western couples who have been affected by a European Union-inspired ban on international adoptions.
The ban was introduced after a report by Emma Nicholson, the EU rapporteur for Romania, accused the authorities of trafficking in children and recommended suspending EU accession negotiations until the situation was regularised.

Czechs face reprimand over public contracts
The European Commission is expected to reprimand the Czech government in this month's annual report for awarding public contracts without tenders. "It is likely that the regular report will express the concern of the European Commission about the use of Article 50," said Ramiro Cibrian, head of the Commission delegation to Prague.

Poland looks to history as it holds the line over land
While some front-running candidates for EU membership have agreed on a seven-year transition period on foreign ownership of farmland, Poland's new government is holding to the 18 years demanded by its predecessor.