Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn: Bulgaria and Romania into EU possibly next year

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According to the European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Bulgaria and Romania still have every chance of joining the Union as early as the beginning of next year.
      "For both countries, the goal to join the union at the beginning of 2007 is still realistic, but its realisation requires finalising and implementing certain reforms", Rehn estimated at the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee meeting in Strasbourg on Monday evening.
      Both Bulgaria and Romania have been promised that they would become members of the EU either at the beginning of 2007 or a year later.
     
The obstacles delaying their joining the Union include flourishing organised crime, deeply-rooted corruption, and the weak position of minority groups in both countries.
      On Monday Rehn admitted that Bulgaria and Romania have advanced in their renewal programmes, but not enough.
      Next month the Commission will decide whether to recommend the Bulgarian and Romanian memberships for the year 2007 or 2008. This June, the heads of member states will determine, based on the Commission's recommendation, the timetable of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
      The German weekly Die Welt has revealed that the Commission is planning to recommend the Bulgarian and Romanian membership from the beginning of 2007.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland supports Bulgaria´s EU membership bid (29.3.2006)

Links:
  European Commission: Enlargement

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