Bulgaria and Romania: "Commission decision firm but fair"

6.34.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th May 2006

The European Commission has just presented its conclusion before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Bulgaria's and Romania's accession prospects at the end of the year. The ALDE believes the message is broadly positive by confirming that the two countries are still on target to join the EU on time on the 1st January 2007 but they cannot afford to let up the reform process in the meantime as the Commission's annual progress report would continue to assess progress on the problem areas.

"Tearing down the Berlin Wall was the easy part," declared Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. "Building a new democratic culture takes much longer. The decision to proceed with a view to 2007 entry, albeit with appropriate provisos, is the right one." "However we take very seriously the Commission's concerns over continuing corruption and organised crime. These must be put right without delay. I now urge all Bulgarians and Romanians to get behind their respective governments' reforms and make 2007 a reality."

Adrian Cioroianu, (PNL, Romania) interpreted the Commission's announcement as a warning shot across the bows: "Romania now has the chance to prove itself a good European and a trustful partner. We cannot afford to be complacent yet we can be optimistic that Romania will shortly be welcomed as a full member of the EU and play its part in building a bigger, but also better, Union."

Antonyia Parvanova (NMSII, Bulgaria) recognised the grave concerns that the Commission expressed with respect to the slow progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime in her country: "All Bulgarians want to live in a democratic, safe and prosperous society. We know we have a problem in getting on top of the crime situation in Bulgaria but things are moving and results are starting to show. This is not a time for Europe to turn its back on us. On the contrary, Bulgaria needs the expertise and resources of the EU and its Member States to continue the fight against all forms of criminality that is undermining Bulgaria's reputation and European vocation."