Bulgaria Gets EU "Reality Check"

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | June 27, 2007, Wednesday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Gets EU "Reality Check" Bulgarian reporters were invited to watch the speaches of Barroso and Frattini via video link at the Commission's delegation in Sofia. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)

Bulgaria's first progress report since joining the EU in January, published on Wednesday by the European Commission, did not invoke the safeguard clauses, but demanded more political commitment to implementing judiciary reforms.

"These reports are a reality check - they show how the Bulgarian and Romanian governments are tackling judicial reform, corruption and organised crime," EC president Jose Manuel Barroso said.

"The reports show that progress is being made but that the focus now needs to move from adoption of laws to implementation," he added.

Bulgaria and Romania joined the bloc earlier this year despite some anxiety among older member states that the two countries have not done enough to stamp out corruption and reform their judiciary.

To facilitate future assessments of the progress made in this direction, the reports put forward a series of concrete follow up measures and tangible objectives.

Should either of the two countries fail to implement them, the commission reserved its right to invoke the safeguard clauses in its next report in 2008.

Barroso's words were echoed by justice and home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini, who described the reports as "are facts-based and fair".

"However, these efforts need to be consolidated, particularly in the area of the fight against corruption. More concrete results, criminals brought to justice and convincing dissuasive judgements are needed," he went on to say.

The main accent in the report on Bulgaria is on the justice system, the fight against corruption and organized crime, but the EC also reviewed the situation regarding other areas of concern - agricultural funding, food safety and aviation safety.

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