11.   A decision to give Poland the same number of votes as Spain reassured the candidate countries that they be on equal footing with the Western European nations.

12.   Aznar also stood by European Commission proposals to limit EU aid to farmers in candidate countries.

13.   Bjerregaard told the ministers from candidate countries that they must rewrite their environment protection programs to show how they will dovetail with EU legislation.

14.   Bush has not said which new candidate countries he supports for membership, but his administration has made clear that Russian objections will not stand in the way.

15.   But they also warned that EU leaders and candidate countries need to try harder to sell enlargement to their citizens.

16.   Candidate countries that attend the meetings are Peru, Russia and Vietnam.

17.   During his current tour, he visited Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania and Bulgaria as part of discussions between NATO officials and individual candidate countries.

18.   Earlier this month the candidate countries joined the EU in condemning the Serb-led intervention in Kosovo and backed further sanctions against Belgrade.

19.   Earlier this month, the candidate countries joined the EU in condemning the Serb-led intervention in Kosovo and backed further sanctions against Belgrade.

20.   European Union members and candidate countries share a lack of enthusiasm for the enlargement of the union, E.U. Commission President Jacques Santer said Friday.