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For those negotiating candidate countries which will not form part of the first accession, the Commission will continue to issue Regular Reports, until the overall level of preparation allows them to fulfil the criteria for accession. The European Union will continue to lend its full support to the preparations for membership by these candidates.
Negotiations will be pursued with them, on the basis of the principles that have guided the accession process from the beginning. The opening of all 29 acquis related negotiating chapters should be possible next year, provided the candidates are sufficiently prepared.
In its 2002 Enlargement Strategy Paper, the Commission will set out an updated road map, and, if necessary, a revised preaccession strategy, for such candidates, taking into account the progress made in the next year and the conclusions of the Göteborg European Council.
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