Author (Person) | Spinant, Dana |
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Series Title | European Voice |
Series Details | 28.09.06 |
Publication Date | 28/09/2006 |
Content Type | News |
The European Commission has recommended that Bulgaria and Romania should be allowed to join the EU on 1 January 2007 but said the pair should be under tough monitoring conditions in the first years after accession. The Commission’s recommendation, publis-hed on 26 September, is to be approved by EU government leaders in October at Lahti, Finland. The Commission said that the two countries were ready to fulfil the obligations of EU membership on 1 January but set a number of benchmarks that they would need to meet to avoid being deprived of some rights, including financial aid. The tough monitoring conditions reflect concern about the two countries’ shortcomings in tackling corruption and organised crime and in setting up adequate structures to control the use of EU financial aid. They also aim at reassuring a sceptical public and some government leaders that allowing Romania and Bulgaria to join will not deprive the Union of the means to exert pressure to continue reforms. The Commission believes that the pair can still be pushed into fighting against corruption, organised crime or money-laundering, when they are full EU members. Romania and Bulgaria will have to report every six months on the progress they make on problematic areas identified by the Commission. These mainly refer to the system of justice, food safety and the use of EU money. The first report is expected by 31 March 2007. If they fail to meet the standards set in the report, the Commission will apply sanctions, in accordance with ‘safeguard clauses’ included in the accession treaty. The main area of concern is justice, where the Commission lists six benchmarks for Bulgaria and four for Romania. These mainly refer to the transparency and efficiency of the judicial process and to the fight against corruption (see below). Failure to meet these objectives would mean that other EU member states would refuse to recognise judgements of Romanian and Bulgarian courts or warrants issued by the two countries’ prosecutors. Bulgaria - benchmarks for justice:
Romania - benchmarks for justice:
Other conditions
The European Commission has recommended that Bulgaria and Romania should be allowed to join the EU on 1 January 2007 but said the pair should be under tough monitoring conditions in the first years after accession. The Commission’s recommendation, publis-hed on 26 September, is to be approved by EU government leaders in October at Lahti, Finland. |
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Source Link | http://www.europeanvoice.com |
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