Future perspectives

Abstract

In the early months of 1998, it appeared that the implementation of Agenda 2000 had commenced according to plan. The first European Conference took place in London on 12 March The first Accession Partnerships were adopted by the European Commission on 16 March, and presented tothe applicant countries at the formal opening of the enlargement process on 30 March And on 31 March 1998, detailed accession negotiations commenced with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Cyprus within the framework of six separate intergovernmental conferences between the 15 existing Member States and the individual applicant countries. However, there werealso some negative developments.