Outgoing European affairs minister Gergana Passy is pictured here at the press conference, organized during the live presentation of the progress report in Brussels. Photo by BGNES
The latest progress report of the European Commission, which spared Bulgaria from invoking the safeguard clause, puts the end to this debate and marks a huge step forward, according to the country's outgoing European affairs minister.
"It is important not to go euphoric because the criticism in the report is well founded," Minister Gergana Passy said.
She forecast that Brussels would continue to observe Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism until this is necessary, tentatively saying this may be in year's time.
"I have never doubted that pointing the problem is a shortcut to its solution. Bulgaria's progress has been recognized and duly assessed," the minister said.
Romania and Bulgaria need to make a stronger commitment to curbing corruption, the European Commission said Wednesday.
The commission, the European Union's executive arm, last year withheld hundreds of millions of euros in aid money earmarked for the two countries, citing corruption concerns.
Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told a news conference the monitoring efforts have shown positive results, but noted Romania and Bulgaria need to make further reforms.
The Commission did not recommend the triggering of the safeguard clause.