date=12/10/94
type=correspondent report
number=2-170661
title=E-U / Summit 4 (l)
byline=Thomas Anderssen
dateline=Bonn
content=
voiced at:

Intro:  The European Union has condemned Serb forces, which are
attacking Bihac in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a U-N designated safe area
for refugees.  At their two-day summit in the German city of
Essen, the E-U's 12-leaders have called for an immediate
cease-fire around Bihac.  As Thomas Anderssen reports, six former
east-bloc countries have been given warm messages of welcome to
join the European Union, but not right away.

Text:  As the host of this summit, and as a politician deeply
committed to the European Union expanding eastward, German
chancellor Helmut Khol underlined the historical significance of
this meeting.  The nations of Central and Eastern Europe have
been transformed in five-years from enemies to friends and
trading partners.

The prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, all eager to consolidate their
links with the European Union, endorsed Mr. Khol's comments at
the summit.

The European Union has pledged six-and-one-half-billion dollars
during the next five-years to help restructure the economies of
the six former-communist countries.  Mr. Khol stressed once
economic and political reforms are complete, the former east-bloc
countries would be welcome E-U members, although no timetable for
membership has been decided.

Meanwhile, the E-U leaders re-stated their commitment to the U-N
peace mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Squabbling and disunity at
last week's 53-nation Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe had created fears of a U-N pull-out from Bosnia.

The E-U leaders also called for Serbia to tighten its border with
Bosnia to stop illegal arms or fuel shipments filtering through
to Bosnian-Serb troops.

The outgoing president of the E-U commission, Jacques Delors was
glowingly praised by the European leaders for his solid work
during the past decade.

Mr. Delors spent most of the closing summit press conference
dodging journalists' questions about whether or not he plans to
run for president of France next year, when Francois Mitterrand
steps down.  Mr. Delors stubbornly maintained his silence, saying
he would announce his decision before Christmas.
Among other issues discussed was the security agency -- Europol.
The summit leaders pledged to grant the fledgling crime-fighting
body more powers.

Currently Europol is limited to fighting the drug trade.  But,
its duties are to be expanded to include the smuggling of people
and nuclear material, money laundering, and car trafficking
throughout Europe.

The E-U leaders also called for a new strategy to promote
European trade with Asia.  They voiced fear Europe is lagging
behind the United States in doing business throughout Asia, a
region with some of the world's fastest-growing economies.

The summit also singled out Latin America, and the Caribbean
states as areas where stronger ties were needed.

Outside the meeting Saturday, German police detained more than
500 demonstrators who tried to stage an anti-summit rally.
(Signed)

neb/ta/bd-t/rae

10-Dec-94 9:39 pm est (0239 utc)
nnnn

source: Voice of America

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A tovabbterjesztest a New York-i szekhelyu Magyar Emberi Jogok
Alapitvany tamogatja.

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