EU CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: FERHEUGEN’S STATEMENT IS A WARNING NOT A THREAT

Views on BG | February 24, 2002, Sunday // 00:00

Guenter Verheugen, EU Enlargement Commissioner statement that it would not be good for Bulgaria and Romania if they received double refusal from NATO and EU is not a threat as it was commented, Meglana Kuneva, Bulgaria’s EU Chief Negotiator said. According to her, Verheugen’s words were more or less a request and a way to demand from the Parlaimentary Assembly of Europe to pay attention. Kuneva said that the statement of the EU commissioner expressed support for Bulgaria. The statement was not official, she said, it was only part of unofficial conversations Verheugen had with several American congressmen.

Guenter Verheugen, EU Enlargement Commissioner said that it would be nice if Europe had a system for security that is not fragmentary so that the countries in EU are also NATO members, radio BBC reported on February 20. Bulgaria and Romania countries are excluded from the first wave of candidate states to join EU and are not among the leading candidates for NATO, BBC commented.

Guenter Verheugen requested that the EU and NATO enlargement processes be unofficially related during a meeting with NATO officials in Brussels. “We should consider the fact that the countries that would not be invited to EU, will also not be invited to NATO. This double rejection can create a very difficult psychological situation in Bulgaria and Romania in particular. I know that both countries will not join EU with the first wave. That is why I ask you to pay attention to this fact,“ Ferheugen said. Verheugen explained that Bulgaria and Romania should not be quickly join EU and NATO since “they don’t have administrative ability, structures, money and economy and the two countries perfectly know that they need more time for preparation."

According to BBC, there are serious doubts whether NATO will invite Bulgaria and Romania to join NATO primarily because of the state of their economies. “It is highly probable that Bulgaria and Romania will not join EU before 2007. NATO can show support by inviting them to join the Alliance. Still, in both countries where the public opinion favors EU and NATO entry, the consequences from a double rejection might be negative, “ BBC commented.

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