Press Release: Bulgaria and Romania move closer to accession goal

The European Commission on 25 October 2005 adopted the 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's preparations for EU accession. The Report showed that both countries had made good progress in their preparations. They were expected to be able to meet the requirements of EU membership at the envisaged date of accession on 1 January 2007 provided they were to concentrate all efforts on the reforms, with particular attention to their actual implementation. The Commission intended to continue to closely monitor their preparations. It was planning to 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.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Enlargement: Bulgaria http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/bulgaria/index_en.htm

European Commission: DG Enlargement: Romania http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/romania/index_en.htm

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/05/395, Key findings of the 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Reports on Bulgaria and Romania, 25.10.05 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/395&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/05/396, Frequently asked questions about the safeguard clauses included in the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, 25.10.05 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/396&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

European Commission: Speech: SPEECH/05/641, 2005 Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession, Speaking points, 25.10.05 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/641&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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