Press release

AFR The Prime Minister is to meet the Prime Minister of Romania on 7 June 2002.

06.06.02

Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase on 7 June for talks and a lunch at Marienborg.

Romania is currently negotiation terms of accession to the EU.

On the occasion of the visit, the Prime Minister states:

'I have given high priority to meeting my colleagues from the candidate countries before Denmark assumes the EU Presidency on 1 July. I am very much looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of Romania.

Obviously, Romania's preparations for membership of the EU and the negotiations with the EU will have a central position in our talks. Romania will not be able to finalise the negotiations on membership of the EU by the end of this year, but we shall have to draft a road map for Romania's further negotiations with the EU. The prospects for completing Romania's negotiations on EU membership depend on the continued progress of the Romanian reform process.

The question of the enlargement of NATO, for which Romania is also a candidate, will similarly be a significant issue in our talks. Denmark hopes to reach a decision on an extensive enlargement of NATO at the summit in Prague in November of this year.'

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The Prime Minister's talks with Prime Minister Nastase will take place from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Marienborg, Nybrovej 410 in Lyngby.

There will be a press meeting at 11:30 AM in the court (the weather permitting; alternatively indoors).

There will also be a photo opportunity in connection with the Prime Minister's reception of Prime Minister Nastase at 10:30 AM at Marienborg.

Press card must be clearly visible.

Further information: Jesper Fersløv Andersen, (+45) 33 92 22 35.