Negotiations on free mobility of workers from newly joined countries will be concluded in time for a mid-June EU summit it was announced today.
Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Goran Persson, said the 15 EU members had overcome their differences on the issues of freedom to move people and capital around the bloc. Free movement of goods and services were still to be discussed.
"We have a common position now in the EU and that is extremely important, because that is the fundamental basis for ...the enlargement process," Mr Persson said.
"Of course that position will not be loved by the applicant countries, but I think in the end we will unite about that position," Mr Persson added.
After weeks of disagreement, EU ambassadors on Wednesday reached a deal that could bar workers from new EU states for up to seven years from seeking jobs in current member countries.
Candidate countries, mostly from eastern and central Europe, have asked for immediate freedom of movement for workers. But Germany and Austria, fearing a flood of cheap labour after enlargement, pushed for a long transition period.
Spain and Portugal had previously demanded continued EU regional funding after the bloc is enlarged by a first wave of applicants, which also sparked heated debate.
Among a dozen applicants, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus are regarded as frontrunners.