FRANCE/VARIOUS: Bulgaria and Romania welcomed into the EU, with safeguards

Bulgaria and Romania received the green light on Tuesday (September 26) to join the European Union in January, rather than a year later, but under the toughest terms imposed on any new entrants. In a recommendation on what could be the EU's last expansion for years, the European Commission listed reforms the Balkan duo must complete to avoid being deprived of full membership benefits early on, including some of their huge EU aid. "Our conclusion is that both countries are in a position to take on the rights and obligations of European Union membership on 1st January, 2007," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the European Parliament. EU leaders are to approve the recommendation in October. France, Germany, Denmark and Belgium are yet to ratify the accession treaty, but this is unlikely to be a hurdle. The leader of the biggest European People's Party, Hans Gert Poettering, welcomed the two countries into the EU. But he also welcomed the European Commission's safeguard mechanism which he said would enable the new entrants to continue their reforms process and ensure that european money was not being handed over into corruption. Socialist leader Martin Shulz accused Poettering of being churlish saying that now was not the time to talk about safeguards, important though they were, and unconditionally welcomed Romania and Bulgaria into the EU. Green party leader, Daniel Cohn Bendit, accused the Commission and the parliament of hypocrisy. European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said at the end of his address that enlargement should not continue unchallenged after Romania and Bulgaria's entry in 2007. In an attempt to soften those who have opposed the new entrants' adhesion, Barroso said institutional reforms were needed before admitting any other country in the EU. Cohn Bendit accused the commission of having said that after every enlargement and said the issue was about the mechanism of enlargement and not the enlargement itself. "It is obvious that the Balkans have a future in the European Union. It's obvious that Romania and Bulgaria have a future in the European Union. They must be in. The problem is how, under what conditions, and what is the rhythm and how do we organise it. It is not poetry that organises daily politics. It is sadly not poetry. And today, I ask you one thing, it is to be serious. And I tell you seriously. With this report here, had it been Turkey you would all have said 'no'," he said. It will be the EU's second wave of enlargement into ex-communist eastern Europe, locking the Black Sea neighbours into the zone of stability and prosperity and promising a boost to their fast-growing economies. But the tough entry conditions reflected concern about the countries' shortcomings, including rampant corruption, organised crime and food safety standards, and doubts over their ability to administer billions of euros in EU aid properly. Bulgaria and Romania may also face curbs on migration, not least because their economic output per capita is around one-third of the EU average. This decision is taken individually by each national government. Britain, Ireland and Sweden, which opened their job markets for workers from the 10 countries that entered the EU in 2004, are considering restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians. The possible sanctions, which may be applied up to three years after the countries' accession, are meant partly to reassure the growing number of enlargement critics who say the two countries are too poor and too weak administratively. An hour after EU President Barroso's announcement, Dimitris Kurkulas, Head of European Commission in Bulgaria, held a news conference in the Bulgarian capital in Sofia. Kurkulas called the EU report "open" and said that although more progress had to be made, the "critical mass" had been achieved. "Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to EU has been a historical achievement for the EU, for Bulgaria and for the whole region of South-Eastern Europe," said Kurkulas. The EU could have delayed Romanian and Bulgarian membership until 2008, but some Commission officials say privately this would have humiliated the nations. Both states will have to complete mechanisms to allocate billions of euros in farm subsidies and regional aid. If they do not, Brussels may freeze part of the funds. Bulgaria will be required to amend its constitution to remove ambiguity about the independence and accountability of the judicial system. It must also adopt new laws to improve the transparency and efficiency of the judicial process. Romania must strengthen its Superior Council of Magistracy and establish, as promised, "an integrity agency" that will verify the assets of senior state officials, the draft said. Failure to meet these targets could mean other EU members may refuse to recognise judgements of the newcomers' courts. Bulgaria and Romania will add about 30 million citizens to the bloc's present population of more than 450 million.

ITN Source | September 27, 2006

Tags:. .amend. .curbs. .belgium. .superior. .strengthen