EU backs entry date for Romania, Bulgaria
European Union leaders were today set to back Romania’s and Bulgaria’s bid to join the 25-nation bloc on January 1 next year, after urging the two Balkan countries to speed up reforms in problem areas.
Bulgaria, the less prepared of the two countries, according to a recent EU report, must show clear results in investigating and prosecuting organised crime networks; implement laws for fighting fraud and corruption; do more to prevent money-laundering; prevent embezzlement of EU aid; and complete agriculture reforms.
Romania must finish setting up agencies for disbursing EU aid to farmers; raise veterinary standards for livestock and other agricultural reforms; and make its electronic tax administration system inter-operable with the EU to allow proper collection of VAT.
Both countries must “step up their efforts to tackle decisively and without delay the remaining issues of concern”, the EU government leaders said in a draft statement at the end of their two-day summit in Brussels.
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