Poland has submitted a 1,000-page strategy to the European Union which it hopes will secure it a place in the first wave of EU entrants, the new minister for EU integration said on Friday.

The program contains timetables and tasks aimed at helping Poland to achieve its aim of joining the EU at the start of 2003. They will be a priority during the remaining 18 months of Buzek's cabinet, Saryusz-Wolski said. Some commentators speculate Warsaw may not be invited to join in the first wave of enlargement because internal bickering within Poland's ruling coalition and lack of strong leadership have led to delays in the passage of EU compatible legislation. Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus are in the first wave of 12 eastern European and Mediterranean states hoping to be allowed into the EU. The six countries began membership talks in 1998, but EU diplomats have been reluctant to confirm their January 1, 2003 enlargement target, saying current EU states may not be able pay the costs of accepting new members until 2005. They also say the first six EU hopefuls may find it difficult to reform their laws and economies in line with EU standards before that time. Saryusz-Wolski said Poland expected EU leaders to announce an enlargement date at the EU summit in Nice in December.