The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has accused the European Union of taking too long to admit new members.

Mr Orban, who was addressing a gathering of foreign and business leaders in Budapest, said no date had been set for Hungary's entry, yet decisions taken by its members had immediate and direct affects on the country.

Hungary has said it would be ready to join in the year 2002 or at the latest, 2003.

But without a time framework, Mr Orban said, it would be almost impossible to meet all the pre-conditions set by the EU.

Hungary is among a number of countries including Poland and the Czech Republic involved in membership talks with the EU.