EU enlargement timetable doubt as Dutch government falls

THE Dutch government collapsed last night throwing the timetable for EU enlargement into doubt. If the Nice Treaty is passed in Ireland this weekend the final hurdle for the 10 candidate countries will be the summit meeting of EU leaders in Copenhagen in December.

All 15 states must formally agree to accept the proposed 10 countries for membership to allow enlargement to go ahead in January 2004. However, the Dutch government in The Hague had not yet agreed on its position on admitting 10 countries and several government and opposition politicians have been speaking against the so-called big bang.

The collapse of the three-party coalition after less than three months in power was caused by internal feuding between the members of the List Pym Fortuyn party.