Corruption blights Balkan EU bids

On the 25 October 2005 the European 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.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/05/1344, Bulgaria and Romania move closer to accession goal, 25.10.05 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1344&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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