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Baltic Leaders Concerned About Delay in Agricultural Subsidies VOA News 1 Mar 2002 16:09 UTC 
Prime ministers of the Baltic countries have expressed concern about European Union proposals to phase-in agricultural subsidies to farmers in future member states over a 10-year period.
The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, met at a Lithuanian seaside resort where they said the delay will undermine the goal of a unified market across the union.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, proposed subsidizing farmers in new member states at just 25 percent of level received by current members.
The Baltic prime ministers also expressed concern that agriculture production quotas proposed by the commission are lower than current production levels achieved over recent years.
The three Baltic countries hope to conclude EU membership talks this year and join the union by the year 2004.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
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