Outsiders Eager to Get In

In his opening speech, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing greeted Convention delegates in all 11 official languages of the European Union — and in Polish. It was a nice gesture, even though Poles said he mangled the words. But it was hardly enough. Almost half of the national delegates are from the 13 candidate countries. The real prospect that as many as 10 of them will join the European Union in 2004 was what spurred the organization to take on the task of reforming its institutions lest they freeze up when the newcomers arrive. Yet many of the candidates feel they have less...

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