Verheugen: The Window of Opportunity Is Open between 2003 and 2005

Ljubljana, 18 July - The window of opportunity for enlargement is open between 2003 and 2005 at the latest, but the EU member states are not likely to be ready to fix specific enlargement dates at the end of this year, that is at the time of the French presidency, European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said Monday after his talks with Foreign Minister Lojze Peterle. The latter agreed dates between 2003 and 2005 were "realistic" for Slovenia's accession to the EU.