COPENHAGEN: EU TO SEND POSITIVE SIGNAL TO SE EUROPE'S COUNTRIES

COPENHAGEN, Dec 12 (Hina)- The European Council will send a positive and clear signal from its summit in Copenhagen to countries in South Eastern Europe included in the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), Danish Premier and European Union chairman Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday. #L# The EU intends to step up the SAP and the current summit's conclusions will emphasise that objective, sending a clear and positive signal to those countries, Rasmussen said responding to questions by reporters whether or not the five countries in question will enter into the second round of EU expansion foreseen for 2007. The EU determined the SAP for five countries in South Eastern Europe - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Albania - and has given them potential candidate status. Just prior to the historical summit in Copenhagen where ten candidate countries should be invited to access the EU from 2004, Rasmussen announced serious negotiations over financial packages offered candidate countries. (hina) sp/ha sb