News

Bulgaria and the EU: what still needs to be done

Bulgaria and Romania received an EU entry go-ahead in the end of 2006. Despite shortcomings in some areas, the two countries were granted membership on January 1 2007.

In its final monitoring report the European Commission pointed out several areas as needing further reforms. Progress in these areas is to be monitored after Bulgaria becomes union member and the EC reserves the right to introduce safeguard clauses in case developments are slow or insufficient.

Accompanying measures, as the EC called them, are to be introduced for Bulgaria’s food safety, agricultural funds, aviation safety, judicial reforms and the fight against crime and corruption.

EC is also to introduce a mechanism that will be used for monitoring the reform progress. Such mechanism will be used for the first time.

Both Bulgaria and Romania will have to report regularly on their reform completion. The first such report is expected in March 2007. The European Commission will issue its first evaluation in June 2007 and will consider the introduction of safeguard clauses if such are necessary.

In the end of December 2006 the EC said that it will introduce restrictive measures to Bulgaria’s aviation, because of safety issues and the inability of the country to deal with these so far.

EU saw three major problems with Bulgaria’s aviation. Among these are the capacity of the chief civil aviation administration directorate, the preparedness of Bulgarian air carriers and the Russian aircraft still in use.

As a result Bulgarian air carriers are to be treated as ‘third party’ on the common aviation market.

In the end of October the German Bundestag called for the introduction of safeguard clause for Bulgaria’s justice and home affairs sector. Yet, a single country cannot invoke the introduction of such, as the decision passes through the EC.

January 2 2007, Source: www.sofiaecho.com