The European Commission made it clear that Romania was ahead of Bulgaria, the Guardian wrote a day after the EU executive released its keenly awaited progress report.

The article points out that the report has highlighted "serious concerns" in just four technical areas for Romania. Bulgaria has six from sixteen problem areas left.

The commission ruled that Bulgaria and its northern neighbour, Romania, will be allowed to join the EU in January provided that they introduce a number of reforms by the autumn.

"The commission's cautious approach shows how the climate has changed after the rejection of the EU constitution last year by French voters, many of whom were uneasy about EU enlargement," the Guardian commented.

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