1. Estonia Size: 45 227 km² (size of Netherlands) Population: 1,4 million Neighbours: Russia, Latvia, via Baltic Sea - Finland and Sweden History: independent country since 1991 (after “singing revolution”)

2. Estonia Type of state: Parliamentary democracy President: Arnold Rüütel since 2001 Government: coalition of centre right (Res Publica), liberal centre (Government Reform Party) and left wind rural party (People’s Union) Legislature: Single chamber Parliament of 101 members, last election March 2003

3. Estonia Relations with EU : 1995 – Europe Agreement (Association Agreement) 16 September 2003 – Accession referendum – 66,84 % in favour (turnout 64%)

4. Estonia Specific features: - most advanced applicant country regarding information technology, - 20% of the population is either stateless or possess different citizenship than Estonian. - Ethnic status is very mixed – only 67,9% of Estonians, 25,6% of Russians and the rest consists of various others (Finns, Belorussians, Ukrainians).

5. Slovenia Size: 20 000 km² (like Wales or Israel) Population: 2 million Neighbours: Austria, Italy, Croatia, Hungary History: Independence from Yugoslavia since June 1991 (after ten-day war with Yugoslav People’s Army)

6. Slovenia Type of state: Parliamentary democracy President: Janez Dmovšek since 2002 Government: Liberal Democrats (Prime Minister Anton Rop) Legislature: 90-member State Assembly and 40-member State Council

7. Slovenia Relations with EU: 1993 – Co-operation Agreement 1996 – Association Agreement 23 rd of March 2003 – Referendum on EU Accession 90 % in favour, (turnout 60%)

8. Slovenia Specific features: the only EU candidate country from former Yugoslavia GDP per capita higher than Greece, close to Portugal (16,990 Є) lower unemployment than France or Germany tourism is a major industry

9. Hungary Size: 93,036 km² Population: 10,2 million Neighbours: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Former Yugoslavia, Croatia, Slovenia History: 1956 – revolution against communist regime ; 1990 – first free parliamentary elections, 1991 – leave of Soviet soldiers

10. Hungary Type of state: Republic, Parliamentary democracy President: Ferenc Madl, since August 2000 Government: left-liberal coalition of the Hungarian Socialist Party and the Alliance of Free Democrats Legislature: unicameral system – Parliament of 386 members

11. Hungary Relations with EU: 1991 – Association Agreement with EC 12 th April 2003 – referendum on accession – 83,76% in favour (turnout 45,6%)

12. Hungary Specific features: 13 officially recognised minorities (German, Gypsies, Croats, Slovacs, Romanians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Polish, Armenian, Rutherns, Serbs, Ukrainian) one of the lowest unemployment rate in candidate countries (5,8%)

13. Hungary Position on Constitution Every Member State should have one Commissioner The rotating presidency principle of the Council should be maintained Enhanced cooperation allowed if more than half of Member States involved A paragraph on the rights of national and ethnic minorities should be included in the Preamble of Constitution or in the Charter of Human Rights

14. Poland Size: 312 685 km² Population: 38,654 million (similar to Spain) Neighbours: Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Lithuania History: 1989 – first free elections after 10 year Solidarity movement, 1997 new Constitution

15. Poland Type of state: Parliamentary democracy President: Aleksander Kwaśniewski, (for second time) Government: coalition of Social Democrats with Labour Union and People’s Social Party Legislature: bicameral Parliament – Sejm of 460 members and Senat of 100 members

16. Poland Relations with EU: 1989 – Co-operation Agreement 1991 – Association Agreement 7 th of June 2003 – referendum on Accession – 57% in favour (54% turnout)

17. Poland Specific features: the biggest candidate country, the longest outside border the biggest population, big agriculture – but not very efficient 70% economic activities from developing private sector

18. Poland Position on Constitution: Refusal to change the Nice voting system in the Council one commissioner per country reference to Christian traditions in the preamble requested