“ We should in no case allow “impolite” statements in connection with Romania and Bulgaria. We hope these countries will be accepted in EU as soon as possible, even if that is not possible to happen simultaneously with the first wave," French President Jacques Chirac said, quoted by France-Presse.

In this way he made a correction to the stand announced by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine on the candidatures of Bulgaria and Romania for EU membership.

Chirac confirmed that Vedrine’s statement is ‘by definition statement of France,’ he added that only when negotiations near their end, a political approach for EU enlargement can be considered.

Chirac explained that Vedrine’s idea is related mainly to Poland’s accession and underscored that France wishes Poland to enter the European Union in 2004.

On November 19, French Foreign Minister Vedrine proposed that Romania and Bulgaria enter EU with the countries from the first wave considering that none of the countries is prepared enough for accession.

All observers analysed Vedrine’s statement as an attempt of France to postpone the EU accession. The British magazine The Economist wrote that the statement is an expression of France’s fears for EU enlargement.

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