Itâs official. Romania and Bulgaria will adhere to the European Union on the 1st of January 2007. The good and predictable news has been communicated by the European Commission in Strasbourg in front of the European Parliament Members in the plenum.
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Corespondenta din Strasbourg |
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Corespondenta din Strasbourg |
Itâs official. Romania and Bulgaria will adhere to the European Union on the 1st of January 2007. The good and predictable news has been communicated by the European Commission in Strasbourg in front of the European Parliament Members in the plenum.
Congratulations, Romania and Bulgaria! This was the message heard from the tribune of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, together with the Extension Commissary, Olli Rehn, announced the good news officially. The press, as well as the European Governments had anticipated it. Romania and Bulgaria will adhere to the European Union on the 1st of January 2007. This is the target date mentioned for the first time at the reunion of the Union leaders in December 2002 in Copenhagen. The conclusions of
that summit showed the two states could have become members at the beginning of 2007, if they were ready and applied the reforms needed in several areas.
REUNIFICATION. "This is a historical moment that marks the reunification of the European family. Congratulations to the Romanian and Bulgarian people for their efforts in satisfying the adherence conditions", Jose Manuel Cardoso said. Olli Rehn has also talked about history. The two countries, as well as the European partners, werenât surprised by the decision. Due to certain information "leaks" that appeared to test the public opinion, Europe had let things ride as far as "January 1st 2007" was concerned. Romania was the most nervous of all.
After the monitoring report in May 2006, the country saw the "red flags" disappear from the areas that could have led to the postponement of the adherence. Bulgaria didnât have many reasons to be nervous either. Even though the document in May showed they were to work a little more on the Justice and Internal Affairs areas, the adherence in 2008 would have been taken into account only after the unanimous vote of all the member states. Greece had said more than once that they wouldnât support the postponement.
MONITORING. A strict unprecedented monitoring operation and a series of engagements (four for Romania, six for Bulgaria) come together with the firm "yes" said by Europe today. In the
case of Romania, one of the priorities is creating a transparent and efficient judicial process by increasing the capacity of the Supreme Council of Magistracy. In the same time, the impact of the new penal procedures codes has to be monitored and reported. The initiation of the National Agency for Integrity is also requested in the report. According to the text, this should be responsible for "the checking of the fortunes and possible interest conflicts as well as for the decisions regarding the punishments". The European officials ask the Romanian authorities to continue the progresses they have already accomplished, especially the ones regarding the "professional and fair investigations in the high-level corruption cases". The fourth and last recommendation targets taking measures to prevent and fight corruption, "especially at local level".
THE LAST CHANCE. Even though they didnât manage to keep up with Poland, Hungary and the other countries that joined the Union on the 1st of May 2004, Romania and Bulgaria have been considered as taking part in the same extension wave, the fifth. Their adherence takes place in a moment in which the "old" Europe is against newcomers more than ever. The polls show that the immigrantsâ problem is directly associated to the extension, and the ordinary European citizens donât see Romania and Bulgaria as good news. The Commission has already announced the extension would go on a break after January 2007, because the member states and their citizens need time to reflect and be sure the European giant can function. The European Constitution project, which regulates the reform of the EU institutions in such a way that they will be able to function in an extended formula, is an essential point. The present institutions have been created for a Europe with 15 members and hardly manage with the pressure of the present 25 members.
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