SCHROEDER TELLS SLOVAK DAILY THAT EU EXPANSION POSSIBLE BY 2002. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told the Slovak daily "Pravda" of 23 October that the EU might accept new members by the end of 2002, Reuters reported. In the "Pravda" interview, which was published the same day he arrived for an official visit to Bratislava, Schroeder said the EU must complete all internal reforms by 2002 so that it is prepared to expand. Some EU candidate countries have said they will be ready to enter the union by 2003, but EU officials have often cited 2005 as the earliest date when expansion will take place. PB
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