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Publishers Abstract:
In 2002, the European Council reassured Bulgaria and Romania that these countries would be welcome to join the European Union in 2007, provided they made sufficient progress in fulfilling the membership criteria. The negotiations were completed in December 2004 and the Treaty of Accession was signed on Apr 25, 2005. The Commission delivered its opinion under Article 49 TEU on Feb 22, 2005. It -- somewhat euphemistically -- called this opinion a favourable one and it repeated an earlier statement made in 2004 that Bulgaria and Romania fulfilled the political criteria. The Commission has identified the reform of the justice system and the fight against organised crime and corruption as areas where extensive Union support is to be made available to Bulgaria and Romania. A mechanism for cooperation will be established to provide guidance in the reform process and to verify progress.
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