Summary: Speaking points of European Commission President Barroso: "May 2006 Monitoring Report on Bulgaria's and Romania's progress towards accession" (Strasbourg: 16 May 2006)
Mr President,
Honourable Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to have the opportunity to present to you today the results of our assessment of Bulgaria's and Romania's preparations for accession and I look forward to discussing this with you.
I would like to thank the Parliament, in particular its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chairman Brok and the rapporteurs, Messrs Van Orden and Moscovici, for their contribution to this important exercise. I very much appreciate the constructive spirit of our frequent discussions on this subject.
As you know, the decision that the Commission has taken today is the result of an extensive process of review and of dialogue with all the major stakeholders. The starting point of our approach is that the EU must honour existing commitments. At the same time, we need to be rigorous as regards the criteria to be met by acceding countries.
I would like to make a few brief remarks, before giving the floor to Olli, who will comment in more detail on the Commission's findings in the Monitoring Report.
Honourable members,
Since October, the Governments of Bulgaria and Romania have worked extremely hard to deliver on their outstanding commitments. They have continued to make progress in their preparations for membership. Let us give credit where it is due.
However, there are still some important issues, which need to be addressed. I would highlight in particular the need for further progress in the area of justice and home affairs.
The Commission considers that Bulgaria and Romania should be prepared for membership by 1 January 2007, provided that they address a number of outstanding issues in the course of the next months.
Let me first turn to the situation in the judicial reforms and the fight against corruption. We expect any acceding country to have in place a fully functioning justice system, equipped to fight corruption and organised crime. This is of paramount importance as it underpins the functioning of the whole society and economy. Both countries have shown determination to undertake the necessary remaining reforms and our reports give them full credit for the results already achieved.
Bulgaria still needs to demonstrate clear evidence of results in the fight against corruption, in particular high-level corruption, notably in terms of investigations and subsequent judicial proceedings. It also needs to further reform the judiciary, and remove any ambiguity regarding its independence. We also expect that Bulgaria steps up efforts in investigating organised crime networks.
Romania needs to continue its efforts and demonstrate further results in the fight against corruption, notably in terms of further investigations and subsequent judicial proceedings. It needs to consolidate the implementation of the ongoing judicial reforms.
Turning to the level of alignment of Bulgaria and Romania with the acquis communautaire, we have registered further progress. Still, there remain a few sectors where we express serious concerns. These sectors belong to agriculture and food safety, justice and home affairs, and public finance.
Any acceding country needs to be in a position to properly implement the EU policies upon accession. The "rules of the club" must be respected. We expect Bulgaria and Romania to take immediate corrective action in those problematic sectors.
Honourable Members,
No later than early October, we will review the situation on these outstanding issues. On this basis, the Commission will consider whether the date of their accession to the European Union on 1 January 2007 can be maintained.
The possibility of being ready in 2007 is doable, but it is for the two countries to take decisive actions.
At the same time the EU needs to deliver a clear signal that it stands ready to honour its commitments. This is crucial in order to keep up the momentum. Practical preparations for accession need to continue. I count on the support of all governments and parliaments that still need to complete their procedures to ratify the Accession Treaty.
Honourable members
Our approach is based on strict conditionality and adherence to undertakings. This approach has allowed us to emerge stronger and more confident from each enlargement.
Like the previous enlargements, and especially that in 2004, the forthcoming enlargement will be a success.
Enlargement has always been a response on Europe's part to strategic challenges. And history has shown that this response has been the proper one: time and again, it has been accompanied by a dynamism that has conferred on the enlarged Europe a greater capacity to make its mark in the world.
In my view it is today more important than ever. In the situation in which we find ourselves, we need to preserve the spirit of openness and ambition that has always inspired us to press ahead with the construction of Europe.
I will now give the floor to Commissioner Rehn.
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