9 THE BALTIC ASSEMBLY __________________________________________________________ STATEMENT on the Integration into the E

9 THE BALTIC ASSEMBLY __________________________________________________________ STATEMENT on the Integration into the European Union The Baltic Assembly, considering that the membership in the EU is one of the top priorities for the foreign policy of the Baltic states; taking into account the efforts to develop stable and sound economies as well as the active work within the field of harmonisation of legislation in order to fulfil all the necessary requirements for the EU membership; understanding that extremely important decisions regarding the enlargement of the EU will be taken in Amsterdam in June 1997, hopes that the association agreements between the EU and the Baltic states would be ratified and come into force before the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference and declares that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are ready to start the negotiations with the European Union on membership in this organisation and expresses hope that the negotiations would start not later than six months after the conclusion of the EU Intergovernmental Conference. Pärnu, April 27, 1997