Bulgaria and Romania will join the European Union on January 1 2007 as promised - with specific safeguards if necessary, European Parliament's Rapporteur for Bulgaria wrote in a letter to Financial Times.

Continued speculation about delaying accession for a year creates an uncertain economic and business environment in Bulgaria, erodes public confidence, and encourages extremist elements there that oppose democratic development and attachment to the EU and NATO, Van Orden said.

The European Parliament's Rapporteur for Bulgaria admitted that progress in certain areas, particularly in relation to the functioning of the Bulgarian judiciary and the fight against organised crime and corruption has been slow. "However, this is being remedied through a new penal code, constitutional changes which include reduction of immunities, the appointment of a dynamic and untainted chief prosecutor, and the restructuring of police and investigative services."

Van Orden also explained that the Commission should make the appropriate recommendation concerning the accession date in its report to parliament and Council on May 16. A judgment on post-accession measures could be made following the subsequent Commission report in November.

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