European Union leaders are expected to spend the second day of their summit in Helsinki fine tuning the plans for reform and expansion.

The first day was one of debating and compromise which took the EU closer to setting up a European fast response force and to the reform and expansion of the Union.

Some of the conference decisions were passed with little debate.

Proposals for an EU rapid response force of up to 60,000 troops were agreed in advance.

But on Saturday the details of a programme of reform for the EU will have to be worked out.

Reform is necessary because many of the institutions will not be able to cope in their present shape as the European Union expands.

The BBC's Colin Blane, in Helsinki, says this will be remembered as the summit which pushed the enlargement process on to another stage.

Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Turkey have been added to the list of countries ready to start formal negotiations for membership.

Turkey's return

Representatives of all the countries who have just joined the queue for membership will be in Helsinki as the summit enters its second day.

The BBC's Angus Roxborough, who is also at the summit, says one of the most satisfying moments on Saturday will be when the Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, arrives to join the EU leaders for lunch.

His presence will symbolise Turkey's return from the diplomatic cold after decades of asking to join the European Union.

There had been doubts about whether Turkey would accept conditions attached to the invitation to become a candidate for EU membership.

But after talks late on Friday night with senior European envoys, Mr Ecevit indicated his agreement.