At the Gothenburg summit it may be perfectly possible to set the date

Goran Persson

However, he did not exclude the possibility of setting a date at a summit at the end of the Swedish presidency in June.

His words may disappoint countries likely to be included in the first wave of expansion - Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia and Slovenia - following the upbeat message of the EU's Nice Summit in December.

The frontrunners came away from Nice claiming that they would join the EU in 2003 - though 2004 is widely regarded as the earliest realistic date.

'Erroneous signal'

Addressing the parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Persson said: "We cannot set a date until we know that the content of necessary negotiations has been successful."

Mr Persson is keen for Baltic states to be admitted

"It would be an erroneous signal to say today that on this or that date one or another of the countries negotiating for membership will be able to join."

He added: "At the Gothenburg summit it may be perfectly possible to set the date, but to talk now of a date would be wrong."

A dozen countries, mostly from ex-communist central and eastern Europe, are currently negotiating EU membership.

In addition to the six frontrunners, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Slovakia joined the negotiating process last year.

A 13th candidate, Turkey, has still to begin negotiations.

Three 'E's

Sweden has made enlargement one of the top priorities of its six-month presidency of the EU which began on 1 January.

It is especially keen for its Baltic neighbours Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to join the Union.

Sweden's other top priorities - which also begin with "E" are employment and the environment.

Mr Persson told a later news conference that Sweden would also pursue an "active dialogue" with Turkey over the obstacles to its membership bid, which include human rights.