Candidate foreign ministers issue joint statement on financial package

Foreign Minister, Joe Borg yesterday joined his counterparts from the " Laeken Group" of countries in welcoming the result of the Irish Referendum which will allow the EU to complete the process of ratification of the Treaty of Nice and get ready for enlargement. Ministers also discussed various issues related to the final phase of the negotiations on accession to the EU.

Minister Borg, who described the meeting as "extremely useful" said that it reflected the very strong momentum the accession process had now gained .

In a joint statement issued after the meeting the Ministers expressed their expectation that the European Council in Brussels will decide on a financial package which will reflect a fair balance between rights and obligations of membership. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Acceding States would be held at the level of Prime Minister in November 2002.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs also called on the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel. Foreign Minister, Joe Borg is expected to return to Malta later on this evening.