Several of the new member states are fighting over who will get the right to host the EU's external border agency.
Poland, with the longest border in an enlarged EU, along with Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Hungary and Malta are all keen to get the agency which is set to start its activities in January 2005.
The agency will have a staff of about 30 and a budget of six million euro in 2005 and ten million euro in 2006 - and will be crucially important after enlargement.
Its a...
Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member
Already a member? Login here