Leading EU enlargement candidate Cyprus on Wednesday, November 14 welcomed the European Commission's latest progress report on the accession process but warned that hard work still lay ahead.
"The EU report was very positive and we are very satisfied that it shows Cyprus fulfills the economic and political criteria and that we are leading the process," the island's chief EU negotiator George Vassiliou said. "There is a lot of hard work ahead with 350 laws and regulations to pass through parliament within eight working months," Vassiliou, a former president, told a press conference.
He said most of the ground work had been covered and delays in tough chapters concerning home affairs and tax reform were being overcome.
Cyprus has stood out in its membership preparations, closing 23 out of 31 negotiating chapters, more than any other candidate state. The target is to complete the process by end 2002, with a view to joining in January 2004.
Tuesday's annual report from the European Commission complimented Cyprus on its progress but criticized delays in liberalizing the communications sector and introducing tax reforms like increasing VAT. — (AFP, Nicosia)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
