Bulgaria's Cabinet is determined to do its best and ensure the country's EU membership on January 1, 2007, Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev told European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hubner.

Stanishev pointed out that the country has the necessary political will to fulfil all commitments it has made, in order to be prepared for the EU accession in 2007. The prime minister said that the government has mobilized its efforts to the maximum degree and the reforms in the country will not stop after the entry.

The prime minister also told EU Commissioner Hubner that the country had adopted the required legislation, ensuring transparency and accountability in the absorption of the Structural Funds - the adopted laws include those on financial management and control, the public sector audit and on public procurement.

Bulgaria needs to stay in the fast lane of reforms to join in 2007, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy said.

Danuta Hubner noted that Bulgaria has made significant progress but needs to take decisive action in certain key policy fields to be able to join the European Union in 2007.

She added that Bulgaria can take full advantage of the benefits that come together with the accession only if the Bulgarian authorities manage to complete their reforms and preparations in time.

"We are actively and promptly establishing administrative structures on central, regional and local levels for the successful absorption of the EU Structural Funds in 2007-2008", Stanishev said.

All institutions managing public funds have already had internal audit divisions.

Stanishev acquainted the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy with the Decentralisation Strategy 2006-2015 adopted by the government and with the program for its implementation until 2009.

The Commissioner also met with President Georgi Parvanov, EU-Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva and members of the Bulgarian government concerned with Structural Funds.