The European Parliament will hold an extra session to discuss the progress that Bulgaria and Romania have made towards EU accession.

The European Commission has still to announce whether they consider that the two countries can join the EU on 1 January 2007 as scheduled.

The European Parliament will hear on Wednesday the statements of Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, which will be followed by an open debate in the assembly, when each parliamentary group will voice and defend its stand.

The commissioner was not supposed to appear in front of the EU Parliament before the publication of the comprehensive reports on both countries that the EU Commission prepares for 16 May. The European Christian democrats (EPP) and part of the socialists MEPs however invited Olli Rehn on 26 April in Brussels for a debate about Romania and Bulgaria EU accession.

MEPs will not adopt a final resolution on the date of Romania and Bulgaria's EU accession, but debates are believed to be a reliable indicator ahead of the European Commission's monitoring report due next month.

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