Press Release: Commission adopts favourable opinion on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania

The European Commission on 22 February 2005 adopted a favourable Opinion on the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. This decision followed the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations by the European Council meeting in Brussels on 17 December 2004 and the finalisation of the Treaty of Accession in February 2005. The decision on assent of the European Parliament was planned to be taken on 13 April 2005 and the Council decision was to follow on 25 April 2005, the same day as the date of the signature. The Accession Treaty needed to be ratified by the present and future Member States and was planned to enter into force on 1 January 2007.