Latvian Prime Minister Guntars Krasts this week attacked the European Commission’s decision not to recommend all the Baltic states for early membership negotiations

Date: 25/09/1997

“For Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia there are clear statements by the Commission concerning their setbacks. With Lithuania and Latvia there is no clear statement that they are not ready,” he said. “I think that the decision made by the European Commission was based on internal political issues.” Commission President Jacques Santer had earlier resisted Krasts' calls for a simultaneous kick-off with all ten associated countries, saying that it would be difficult given the EU's lack of resources. European Christian Democrats (EPP) have called for the Commission to give six-monthly progress reports on central and eastern European countries not invited to negotiations next year. They also urged Malta to reactivate its application to join the Union.