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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, head of Lithuanian Delegation for the EU Accession Negotiations Antanas Valionis noted that he was satisfied with a new progress at the negotiations with the EU. On November 28, a meeting between the EU and Lithuanian chief negotiators was held in Brussels. At the meeting another three negotiating chapters were fixed - on free movement of persons, customs' union and competition policy. Lithuania and the EU have preliminary closed 21 negotiation chapters. The total number of negotiation chapters includes 29 main chapters and 2 additional - on Institutions and other issues to be discussed by the end of the negotiations. Quoting Minister Valionis, "Lithuania stands firmly among the candidate countries which have possibilities to accede the EU during the first wave of enlargement". Lithuania seeks to conclude the negotiations in 2002 and, starting from January 1, 2004, be ready to undertake the rights and obligations of an EU member. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister considers such a perspective to be quite real - taking into consideration that in the Strategic document announced two weeks ago the European Commission admitted that EU budget for 2000-2006 was sufficient enough for the accession of ten new members. Nevertheless, Antanas Valionis underscored that final decisions on enlargement scenarios still had not been adopted. According to the Foreign Minister at this stage of the negotiations we have to unite our efforts to seek that the process of enlargement would be favourable for Lithuania. Minister Valionis also expressed his belief in Lithuania's successful moving forward in the negotiations for the EU accession already this year. "We expect dynamic and fruitful negotiations next year as well, during the Chairmanship of Spain and Denmark", he pointed out.