The MEPs from Bulgaria and Romania will take their full-fledged seats in Strasbourg on January 15, when the Parliament opens its first 2007 session.

Sofia sends 18 and Romania - 35 lawmakers, who unlike previously, will enjoy full voting rights in both parliamentary committees and in plenary.

The MEPs from Bulgaria will serve until the country holds elections in May this year. Romania is expected to holds such polls around the same time, probably on May 13, according to local press reports.

Nationalist Dimitar Stoyanov will be back in the European Parliament, to represent Bulgaria.

Former Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski is also among the 18 picked to represent the country, together with rightists Filip Dimitrov, Martin Dimitrov and Konstantin Dimitrov.

The left-wing MEPs will be Marusya Lyubcheva, Atanas Paparizov, Kristiyan Vinegin, Georgi Bliznashki, Mladen Chervenyakov and Evgeni Kirilov.

Centrist Simeon II National Movement chose Antoniya Parvanova, Lidiya Shouleva, Hristina Hristova and Stanimir Ilchev from among their ranks.

The MEPs that will represent ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms will be Medzhmi Ali, Chetim Kazak and Filis Hyusmenova.

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