Romania unexpectedly attacked the early closure of Bulgaria's negotiations with the European Union, after initially sending positive signals and hailing the news.

In an article for La Libre Belgique Romania's Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana criticized the "rashness" with which the European Union and Bulgaria concluded pre-accession negotiations six months earlier than scheduled.

Bucharest sees no reasons for Bulgaria to hurry with completing its EU talks, he said.

Bulgaria put an end to negotiations for EU entry technically closing the last two chapters, Competition and Miscellaneous, on Tuesday.

Bucharest has closed 24 out of 31 chapters of the acquis communautaire so far.

Bulgaria and Romania have been seen as "a couple" for entering the 25-nation bloc as scheduled on January 1, 2007.

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