Newest EU: Congratulations with conditions for Bulgaria and Romania

Congratulations for Bulgaria and Romania have been tempered by tough new EU conditions to be met by Sofia and Bucharest before June 2007.

European commission president José Manuel Barroso and EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn welcomed Europe’s newest members on time for January 1 2007.

But warmth for Bulgaria and Romania comes with new strings attached and possible penalties for next year.

Well done but…

Barroso greeted Bulgaria and Romania with praise for their efforts to meet strict EU requirements but asked both to go the extra mile.

“Bulgaria and Romania have found the right answer to our strict conditionality… In doing so, they have achieved considerable progress,” he said.

“However, today's report also outlines some areas where both countries need to achieve further progress by sustaining the current reform drive until accession and beyond.”

The commission has created a range of “mechanisms” and “accompanying measures” to ensure Bulgaria and Romania stay on track.

Safeguards

Barroso insisted that the new conditions were needed to ensure the EU continued to function as it grows from 25 to 27 members.

“The rigorous application of such accompanying measures underlines the emphasis we have placed on conditionality throughout the accession preparations of both countries.”

“We are therefore convinced that - once again - enlargement will proceed smoothly in a way which will strengthen, not compromise the functioning of the union,” he said

“It is indeed important to ensure that, as we enlarge, we are still able to function efficiently.”

‘Benchmarks’

European enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn highlighted six “benchmark” conditions for Bulgaria and four for Romania in the politically sensitive area of judicial reform.

The Finn warned both Sofia and Bucharest that failure to make the grade by June 2007 could see legal sanctions taken against either or both countries.

“The commission will set up a mechanism for cooperation and verification of progress in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime.”

“Benchmarks have been established which refer to the particular circumstances of each country,” he said.

“The mechanism allows the commission to help the countries to continue the reforms with vigour, and to verify that the expected progress is taking place on the ground.”

EU funding

Rehn reminded both Balkans countries that much-needed EU funding for poor regions and farmers could be hit unless administrative systems are in place for spring 2007.

“Payments can be interrupted, suspended or cancelled, if the commission suspects or detects cases of irregularities or fraud including corrupt practices,” he cautioned.

“Moreover, further to this range of safeguard measures to the EU funds, financial corrections can take place if individual or systemic irregularities are found during the regular controls.”

“There is still a risk that preparations for the management of agricultural funds may not have been completed upon accession… failure to do so will enable the commission in 2007 to reduce the payments.”

Parliament responds

The European parliament’s centre-right leader Han-Gert Poettering offered congratulations tempered with cautions for both countries.

“There are still major deficits in terms of how EU money is spent. There is corruption and organised crime,” he warned.

Socialist leader Martin Schulz acknowledged problems faced by Bulgarian and Romania but stressed that celebration was due.

“Shortcomings have to be made good but today is not the time and this chamber not the place to talk about problems,” he said. “We are pretty proud in bringing Europe together. Bulgaria and Romania belong to Europe.”

Liberal leader Graham Watson also celebrated the EU’s latest two newest members but raised the rights of Roma minorities in both countries.

“More action needs to be taken by the governments of both countries and the European commission needs to monitor this on our behalf.”

Greens leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit accused all of “hypocritical debate” while pressing questions posed by the failure of the EU constitution remain unanswered.

“We are hypocrites. Yes to Bulgaria and Romania, yes to the Balkans but we are incapable of making Europe a genuine Europe,” he said.

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