This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5380024.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU to approve Balkan candidates | EU to approve Balkan candidates |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission is due to announce the timetable it will adopt for admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. | The European Commission is due to announce the timetable it will adopt for admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. |
| It is expected that Bucharest and Sofia will be told they can join on 1 January 2007 - but under strict conditions. | It is expected that Bucharest and Sofia will be told they can join on 1 January 2007 - but under strict conditions. |
| They will be checked for progress in curbing organised crime, controlling animal disease and instituting procedures for administering farm aid. | They will be checked for progress in curbing organised crime, controlling animal disease and instituting procedures for administering farm aid. |
| The conditions are tougher than imposed on previous new members, observers say. | The conditions are tougher than imposed on previous new members, observers say. |
| The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Strasbourg says they are intended both as a reassurance for EU citizens, only half of whom support further enlargement, and as a warning to Turkey and the Balkan nations still lobbying for EU membership. | The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Strasbourg says they are intended both as a reassurance for EU citizens, only half of whom support further enlargement, and as a warning to Turkey and the Balkan nations still lobbying for EU membership. |
| The president of the commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has said the EU cannot go on with further expansion until it decides what to do about its stalled constitution. | The president of the commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has said the EU cannot go on with further expansion until it decides what to do about its stalled constitution. |
| Concerns remain | Concerns remain |
| The commission's report, seen by the BBC, should finally confirm that after seven years of talks, Bulgaria and Romania are able to take on the rights and obligations of EU membership next January. | The commission's report, seen by the BBC, should finally confirm that after seven years of talks, Bulgaria and Romania are able to take on the rights and obligations of EU membership next January. |
| The two countries missed out on the EU's big eastward expansion in 2004. | |
| In an announcement to be made in the European Parliament, the 2007 date is expected to be chosen instead of a 2008 alternative. | In an announcement to be made in the European Parliament, the 2007 date is expected to be chosen instead of a 2008 alternative. |
| It would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Romania and Bulgaria - there are some limits to our absorption capacity Jose Manuel BarrosoEuropean Commission president | It would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Romania and Bulgaria - there are some limits to our absorption capacity Jose Manuel BarrosoEuropean Commission president |
| Correspondents say the two countries will be delighted that they can get in on schedule before Mr Barroso puts a block on further expansion. | Correspondents say the two countries will be delighted that they can get in on schedule before Mr Barroso puts a block on further expansion. |
| But concerns remain, mainly about Bulgaria. | But concerns remain, mainly about Bulgaria. |
| Unless it cracks down on organised crime, legal decisions taken by its courts could be disregarded in the rest of Europe. | Unless it cracks down on organised crime, legal decisions taken by its courts could be disregarded in the rest of Europe. |
| Both countries will have to report every six months on progress in fighting corruption. | Both countries will have to report every six months on progress in fighting corruption. |
| By March, they also need to set up agencies to handle millions of euros worth of EU farm aid, or risk losing a quarter of the cash. | By March, they also need to set up agencies to handle millions of euros worth of EU farm aid, or risk losing a quarter of the cash. |
| Both will face food export bans due to outbreaks of animal diseases like swine fever, while Bulgarian planes could be banned from flying into EU airspace until the country improves its air safety standards. | Both will face food export bans due to outbreaks of animal diseases like swine fever, while Bulgarian planes could be banned from flying into EU airspace until the country improves its air safety standards. |
| Streamlining needed | Streamlining needed |
| An EU official said the commission did not want to punish Bulgaria and Romania, but to make them work harder to carry out reforms. | An EU official said the commission did not want to punish Bulgaria and Romania, but to make them work harder to carry out reforms. |
| Mr Barroso says the EU needs reforms to streamline its decision-making process. | Mr Barroso says the EU needs reforms to streamline its decision-making process. |
| The rules of the European club can currently cope to 27 members at most, though experts say they could be tinkered with to squeeze Croatia in before a major treaty change. | |
| "It would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Romania and Bulgaria," he said on Monday. | "It would be unwise to bring in other member states apart from Romania and Bulgaria," he said on Monday. |
| "There are some limits to our absorption capacity." | "There are some limits to our absorption capacity." |