We are especially pleased that we have the opportunity to combine the official opening with this year’s East-West conference so that we can celebrate this festive occasion together. Many of you already joined us yesterday evening for the official opening reception and had a chance to visit the new facilities.
Now, after almost 15 years since the first seminar in the spirit of the East-West Conference, we stand at a point where the most important step of EU enlargement, one major focus of the conference series, is only a few months ahead. In May 2004, ten countries will join the European Union.