Slovenia to Conclude EU Negotiations Soon

Ljubljana, 5 October - As one of the best prepared EU candidates Slovenia expects to join the Union in the first wave of enlargement in 2004. European Commission's report on the progress of the candidates due on 9 October, which is to ascertain which candidates are ready to conclude negotiations by the end of 2002 and thus join the Union in 2004, is only expected to confirm Slovenia's hopes. Ten out of a total of twelve EU candidate countries negotiating EU accession, including Slovenia, are said to be recommended for the close of negotiations.