The European Council, which ended in the Belgian capital, confirmed, as to the Constitution, its commitment to take "very specific decisions by 2008". "In addition, we have extensively discussed the future extension of the EU specifies the Austrian Chancellor, Schüssel -. We still have to deal with the problem of the EU’s ability to take up more member states, which is not to be regarded as a criterion for future accession but rather as a condition that must always be kept into account and prepared with a view to any further extension of the EU". The EU’s "ability to take up new members states will be the other side of the coin of the Copenhagen criteria: those countries that want to enter the EU have to get ready to take that step, and so does the EU". Ursula Plassnik, head of the diplomacy of Vienna, explains that "seven statements have been passed today about the common foreign policy. The EU project is a project of peace, and we mean to look at it from that perspective, by making people understand that the EU is a reliable, strong partner that works towards international cooperation". The crucial issues, according to Plassnik, are many, at this stage: "We have insisted on the European perspective for all the Western Balkan countries; we have carefully considered the situation of Iran and the Middle East. And we have reasserted our commitment to outline an effective strategy for the African continent". (to be continued)
