BULGARIA'S REFORM PROGRESS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EU ENTRY DATE

10:28 Fri 14 Apr 2006

The implementation of reforms in Bulgaria is more important than the EU accession date, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said during his visit to the country. Rehn declined to name a specific entry date.

On Thursday Rehn visited Bulgaria for the last time before the issuing of the final European Commission report on the country’s readiness to join the union, mediapool.bg reported.

Rehn met President Georgi Purvanov and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, as well as diplomats from EU member countries. MPs did get the chance to discuss issues with Rehn, leading to criticism from members of opposition parties.

January 1 2007 is achievable accession date but Bulgaria should put all effort in the implementation of reforms, Rehn said. He said the final EC report will be as objective as possible.

Rehn praised the amount of investment Bulgaria managed to attract in the past months. He also noted the progress in previously critical spheres including agriculture, intellectual property rights and border control.

Comments

Comments by JOHN BLOCK - 18:25 26 Apr 2006
	WE ARE HAPPY THAT BULGARIA IS JOINING EU. AS REQUESTED BY COMMISIONER OLLI REHN REFOMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED OR NOT IS TO BE SEEN. MOST IMPORTANT REFORM SHOULD BE IN THE SECTION OF WIPING OUT CRIMINALITY. BUT BULGARIA IS ATTACKING EDUCATIONAL COLLEGES WHO ARE DOING A SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY IN THE FIELD OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATING THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT A LOW COST GIVING THEM A QUALITY EDUCATION WHICH COST OVER €10,000.00 IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.THE BULGARIN GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED 22 COLLEGES OF TRAING AS ILLEGAL. CRIMINALS ARE DOING WELL.IS EDUCATING BULGARIANS A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ? THE WEST IS ASHAMED OF THIS BEHAVIOUR.