Summary: Bulgaria and Romania move closer to EU accession goal (25 October 2005: Brussels)
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Today the Commission adopted the 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's preparations for EU accession. The Report shows that both countries have made good progress in their preparations. They should be able to meet the requirements of EU membership at the envisaged date of accession on 1 January 2007 provided they concentrate all efforts on the reforms, with particular attention to their actual implementation. The Commission will continue to closely monitor their
preparations. It will review the situation in April/May 2006 when it may recommend, if needed, the postponement of accession until 2008 should one or both countries be manifestly unprepared.
On 25 April 2005, Bulgaria and Romania signed the Treaty of Accession, in view of joining the EU on 1 January 2007. However the full preparations of the two countries for EU accession have not yet been completed, therefore the Commission is continuously monitoring the situation. Today's reports are giving the latest findings.
Presenting the report Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "Bulgaria and Romania have achieved significant progress so far in the preparations for accession. But, the jury is still out. In the months to come particular attention must be paid to actual implementation and enforcement of the reforms. The issues presented in our reports should be taken very seriously and used as an incentive for speeding up the reforms, if Bulgaria and Romania want to be ready for accession on 1 January 2007."
The Commission confirms that Bulgaria and Romania meet the political criteria for membership. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed in particular to strengthen the rule of law, by improving public administration and the justice system and by fighting corruption effectively.
Bulgaria and Romania fulfil the requirement of being a functioning market economy. Bulgaria's continuation of the current pace of its reform path and Romania's vigorous implementation of its structural reform programme should enable them to withstand competitive pressure and market forces within the EU.
Both countries have continued to make progress in adopting and implementing EU legislation. In most areas they are well advanced. However, the Commission has also identified a number of areas where increased efforts are required. The authorities in both countries should vigorously pursue their preparations in order to ensure the full benefit of membership for their citizens. There are a limited number of specific gaps in both countries' preparations which give cause for serious concern. Without
immediate action Bulgaria and Romania will most likely not be able to fulfil their obligations in those specific areas by 1 January 2007.
Next year, in April/May, the Commission will review the situation. It may then recommend, if needed, to postpone the accession of Bulgaria or Romania until 1 January 2008 if there is a serious risk of any of those states being manifestly unprepared to meet the requirements of membership by January 2007 in a number of important areas.
The European Commission will continue to provide substantial financial support to Bulgaria's and Romania's preparations for accession focussing on the remaining gaps. The total volume of pre-accession assistance available for 2006:
Bulgaria: € 545million
Romania: €1155 million
See also: Commissioner Rehn's Speaking points on the 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession
For further information see: MEMO/05/395 and MEMO/05/396
and
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index.htm
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