1.   Associate membership involves lowering tariffs with the Mercosur countries.

2.   Slovenia is negotiating its associate membership.

3.   That might open the door to associate EU membership.

4.   The others only qualify for various levels of associate membership.

5.   As non-EU nations, Norway and Iceland have associate membership in the Schengen group meaning they have no voting rights,

6.   As non-EU nations, Norway and Iceland have associate membership in the Schengen group, meaning they have no voting rights.

7.   Bulgaria and Romania were the only former communist countries which have associate membership with the EU that were on the list.

8.   In spite of its formal military neutrality, Ukraine would seek associate NATO membership in case the alliance expands, a Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.

9.   On Monday, Belizean Prime Minister Said Musa said applications for associate membership from Cayman Islands and Bermuda, both British territories, have been accepted.

10.   To show its displeasure, Washington advised Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands not to take up associate membership in the body, conference officials say.