Bulgaria and Romania could enter the union on time in January 2007, but face continued Brussels monitoring on the implementation of justice reforms, the EUObserver reports.

According to the online edition Frattini has hinted that the two neighbouring countries would join the Union as planned.

Frattini heads the portfolio which has caused the most trouble for Sofia's and Bucharest's EU bid, with Brussels officials frequently citing shortcomings in the judiciary, organised crime and corruption.

"Both Bulgaria and Romania are working very well in the right direction, that's my opinion in my portfolio area," the commissioner said in a European Parliament seminar on Tuesday.

But the justice commissioner gave the clearest indication so far that a May recommendation for 2007 entry could be followed by further Brussels monitoring of the two countries' reform shortcomings, even after accession.

This means that, for example, Bulgaria could face continued scrutiny by EU officials on how many suspects it actually prosecutes for the many murders by criminal gangs.

Frattini said any post-accession monitoring system will be "commonly agreed" between the commission and Sofia or Bucharest, not "imposed by Brussels." Frattini also said it is still "premature to decide about safeguard clauses."

"Any monitoring measures or the safeguard clause are expected to be applied to Bulgaria rather than Romania, with Mr Frattini explicitly praising the Romanians for their "huge progress" in reforms", EUObserver wrote.

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