"If the financial framework of the European Union's enlargement leaves Bulgaria outside the processes, I think that my country will be placed in an utterly adverse economic environment. This will affect very negatively Bulgaria opportunities for accelerated economic growth and preparation for EU membership in the period after the accession of the ten new members," Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mehmed Dikme said at the conference of agriculture ministers of the EU and the applicant states which opened in Brussels on February 18. Dikme expressed fears that in these circumstances Bulgaria will loose to a great extent its competitiveness on the enlarged EU market, the reasons being the different funding of agriculture and infrastructure, as well as the remaining customs barriers to Bulgarian exports. According to him, Bulgaria will be isolated from the natural integration processes in the enlarged EU, which will slow down the process of real economic convergence. "The entry into the most dynamic phase of the EU accession negotiations arouses fears that Bulgaria will be deprived of the possibility to catch up [with the other applicants] and step up the process of talks," Dikme said. He assured the participants in the meeting that Bulgaria is making its utmost to accelerate its preparation for EU accession.

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