Romania and Bulgaria ‘on track’ to join EU

ROMANIA and Bulgaria are still on track to join the European Union on January 1, but must meet demands for outstanding reforms in problem areas, the European Commission said yesterday.

The countries’ progress will be evaluated again in early October, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.

“The possibility of being ready in 2007 is doable, but it is for the two countries to deliver. At the same time, the European Union needs to deliver a clear signal that it stands ready to honour its commitments.”

Bulgaria must show results in investigating and prosecuting organised crime; implement laws for fighting fraud and corruption; do more to prevent money laundering; prevent embezzlement of EU aid; and complete agriculture reforms, the commission said in a progress report.

Romania must finish setting up agencies for disbursing EU aid to farmers; raise veterinary standards for livestock and other agricultural reforms; and make its electronic tax administration system inter-operable with the EU to allow proper collection of VAT.

EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said: “It is our goal to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as members in 2007 — but it is our duty to ensure that once they join, they really meet the conditions.”

He said if problems persisted, the commission may propose withholding aid after the countries join.

Enlargement will be on the agenda of a June EU summit, and the final decision is likely to be made at an autumn summit.

Critics of the EU’s expansion say the bloc has not fully dealt with the adhesion of 10 mostly ex-communist countries in 2004 and fear the entry of more nations will hasten the erosion of social welfare benefits.