30. Reiterates its position that those priorities in the Accession Partnership which relate to the political criteria have to be accomplished in the first phase of the negotiations; notes with satisfaction that the Commission now supports this view as well by stating that those criteria have to be fulfilled within one or two years; calls on Turkey to present as soon as possible a plan including a timetable and specific measures to meet these deadlines; urges the Commission and the Council to make the progress of the negotiations co ...[+++]nditional on the timely accomplishment of those priorities;

30. Reiterates its position that those priorities in the Accession Partnership which relate to the political criteria have to be accomplished in the first phase of the negotiations; notes with satisfaction that the Commission now supports this view as well by stating that those criteria have to be fulfilled within one or two years; calls on Turkey to present as soon as possible a plan including a timetable and specific measures to meet these deadlines; urges the Commission and the Council to make the progress of the negotiations co ...[+++]nditional on the timely accomplishment of those priorities;

Expressing his pleasure at the opening of negotiations, President Barroso said: “I am very pleased that accession negotiations with Croatia will start.

Sir Leon Brittan (European Commissioner for Multilateral Trade) said that under previous enlargements Canada had negotiated compensation, " presumably to the Canadian satisfaction" .

Following a detailed rundown by the Commission on the state of the negotiations in the Uruguay Round, the Council held a thorough examination of all the factors which must be taken into account in the different chapters of the negotiations if, in accordance with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council, they are to be completed by the end of the year to the Community's satisfaction, with a comprehensive and balanced outcome.

The Council - regards the Treaty as the foundation for pan-European cooperation in the energy sector; - regards the implementation of the Charter by means of the Treaty as an important contribution to economic development and long-term political stability in the States of Central and Eastern Europe and the successor States of the former Soviet Union; - notes that the Treaty will contribute to * providing greater energy supply security in Europe, * modernizing the energy industries of the countries in transition and encouraging the efficient use of energy, * reducing the harmful environmental impact of energy production and consumption, * increasing trade liberalization in the energy sector, * ensuring unimpeded transit, and * promoting fo ...[+++]reign direct investment and guaranteeing foreign investors a high level of investment protection; - welcomes the fact that more than two-thirds of the Signatories to the European Energy Charter have already adopted the draft text of the Treaty; - confirms its political intention of jointly signing the Treaty with all negotiating Parties on 17 December in Lisbon; - emphasizes the need to initiate the ratification procedures as soon as possible after signature; - is satisfied with the implementation of the mandate decided by the Council at its meeting on 3 December 1991 and confirms this mandate for the negotiation of the supplementary agreement; - states that the Communities and their Member States will also make a constructive contribution in the second stage of negotiations; - states that the Communities and their Member States intend to conclude negotiations on the Nuclear Protocol as soon as possible; - decides to sign the European Energy Charter Treaty, the Final Act and the Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects on behalf of the European Community, subject to approval, and authorizes its President to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Treaty; - notes that the Commission will sign th ...