Pelican Parts Forums - Hijack this thread

Commission confirms Bulgaria’s and Romania’s EU accession on 1 January 2007, completed by a rigorous package of accompanying measures
Today the Commission adopted its final monitoring report on the preparedness of Bulgaria and Romania for EU membership.
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Based on the solid progress achieved, the Commission considers that both countries will be in a position to take on the rights and obligations of EU membership on 1 January 2007. To address the limited number of areas where further work will be necessary, the Commission proposes a package of rigorous accompanying measures.
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In May 2006 the Commission considered that “Bulgaria and Romania should be prepared for EU membership on 1 January 2007, provided that they address a number of outstanding issues.” Since then both countries have made far reaching efforts and addressed many of the challenges.
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This has sufficiently brought them into line with prevailing standards and practices within the Union. As for the limited number of outstanding issues the Commission’s report demonstrates that the EU disposes sufficient remedies to ensure that the interests of the Union and its citizens are protected.

Commenting the Commission’s decision President José Manuel Barroso stated: “I congratulate the people and the leaders of Bulgaria and Romania for this historic achievement. Our objective assessment demonstrates that the accession of these two countries, as scheduled, with the accompanying measures, we propose, is a chance to complete the EU’s fifth enlargement. This enlargement has consolidated peace and brought more prosperity in Europe. This is the right decision for Bulgaria and for Romania and this is the right decision for Europe.”
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In fact, since May, the two countries have successfully addressed about half of the identified open areas. Based on the current momentum, it is reasonable to expect that the majority of the remaining issues will be resolved during the months to come.[1]
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To avoid any potential risks, the Commission has determined a number of measures to accompany the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. The Commission will set up a mechanism for cooperation and verification of progress in the area of judicial reform, fight against corruption and organised crime. For the protection of the EU’s financial interests a special regulation has been adopted today for agricultural spending. EU rules provide for comprehensive measures to counter risks, in areas such as food safety.[2]

Commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn added: “Our approach is fair and rigorous. It is fair because we recognised the progress that has been achieved and we gave credit where it is due. It is rigorous because we established the necessary mechanism to accompany Bulgaria and Romania on their reform path, in the interest of the two countries and of the EU as a whole.”

Subject to the outstanding ratification processes in 4 EU Member States[3], on 1 January 2007, Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession will bring 30 million people into the EU, thus completing the EU’s historic fifth round of enlargement and creating a Union of almost half a billion citizens.
For further information see:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/key_documents/reports_sept_2006_en.htm

Key findings of the monitoring report on Bulgaria’s preparedness for EU accession
Any candidate country wishing to join the EU must meet the political and economic criteria and has to fully transpose and implement EU laws and standards[1].

During the accession negotiations the progress achieved by the candidate country is reviewed annually in regular reports. After the conclusion of accession negotiations, the Commission continues to monitor the follow-up of the preparation up to accession.

The Commission reported on the progress in all these areas in its 16 May monitoring report. On this basis, it concluded that Bulgaria should be prepared for EU membership on 1 January 2007, provided that it addresses a number of outstanding issues. The present report reviews the progress in these outstanding areas. It highlights the main achievements and pinpoints the remaining shortcomings and the accompanying measures necessary for the country's smooth integration into the EU.

In the May monitoring report, the Commission concluded: “Bulgaria needs to demonstrate clear evidence of results in the fight against corruption, in terms of investigations and judicial proceedings. It also needs to further reform the judiciary, in particular to reinforce its transparency, efficiency and impartiality.” [2]

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Economic criteria

Bulgaria continues to be a functioning market economy though tight macroeconomic policies need to be maintained to contain the high external deficit. Bulgaria continues to be on track to meet the criterion on the ability to cope with market pressures within the union.

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Since May, progress has been achieved in most of these areas. However there are still a limited number of areas where the Commission needs to see further progress in the months leading up to accession and beyond.

Agriculture - The establishment of a functioning integrated administration and control system in agriculture

Good progress has been made lately with regard to the setting-up of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). Particularly, orthophotos have been taken. They constitute an important tool for ensuring the appropriate use of agricultural funds.

Money laundering is a financial crime, linked to terrorist activities, tax evasion or false accounting. The fight of such a criminal activity is paramount for the security and financial interest of all Bulgarian and EU citizens. The Commission will closely follow this issue and if necessary, take appropriate measures.

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Serious deficiencies were identified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) within the JAA system in the relevant safety areas, namely airworthiness, maintenance, operations and flight crew licensing. Corrective steps must be immediately taken.

Unless Bulgaria takes the necessary corrective actions, it risks that the Commission, at its own initiative or at the request of a Member States, may restrict access to the internal aviation market.

In the May monitoring report the Commission concluded: “Romania needs to continue its efforts and demonstrate further results in the fight against corruption. It also needs to consolidate the implementation of the ongoing justice reform and further enhance the transparency, efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary.” [2]

In the fight against high-level corruption, Romania has made significant progress since May both in completing its legislative framework to fight corruption and in establishing a solid track record of serious non-partisan investigations of high-level cases that have led to indictments and judicial proceedings. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate, of the negative consequences of corruption.

Despite the progress achieved, the Commission does not yet consider Romania fully prepared to ensure the management and distribution of the majority of EU agricultural funds. While the institutional structure of the two paying agencies is in place, they are not yet operational. To be fully operational, the paying agencies still need to hire and train additional staff, acquire the relevant IT equipment and establish internal control and inspection structures. There remains a real risk that the IACS will not be functioning properly in Romania by the time of accession. Sustained and, in certain areas, reinforced efforts will need to be deployed in order to ensure the quality of the IACS.

Any member state must guarantee the correct allocation of agricultural funds. Any shortcoming in this respect may delay the disbursement of funds or give rise to correction or recovery of the EU taxpayers’ money. In addition, a special mechanism is adopted to address the remaining systemic deficiencies in the management of EU agricultural funds covered under IACS. This allows the Commission to provisionally reduce by 25% the agriculture payments covered by IACS.[4]

Building-up of rendering collection and treatment facilities in line with the EU laws and standards on TSE and animal by-products
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Since May, Romania has signed tendering contracts for the collection and treatment of dead animals and animal products. This is a clear step forward.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 911Rob (Post 3699527)

NOW that's hijacking a thread!!!!!!!!!