The European Commission report on Bulgaria’s readiness to become EU member confirmed January 1 2007 as the country’s EU entry date.

Both Bulgaria and Romania experienced major transformation over the past year, especially between the issuing of the two EC reports in May and September European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said.

The EC report said that Bulgaria has achieved success in reforming its justice system. “Rules have been introduced establishing objective procedures for the appointment and evaluation of magistrates. Pre-trial proceedings have been improved by the introduction of a fast-track procedure,” the report said.

Fight against corruption also saw improvements, the report said. Laws on political party funding and property declaration regulations for officials and administrators furthered transparency, the report said.

Legislation dealing with money laundering was almost completely synchronised with European requirements but needed to be put into effect.

Bulgaria also achieved progress in the areas of agriculture, consumer and health protection, social policy and employment.

Further progress was needed in a number of areas including social inclusion, anti-discrimination policies, public health, nuclear energy, environment and future management and control over the distribution of EU structural funds.

Bulgaria also needed to adopt a set of constitution amendments guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary. The country also needed to provide more measures countering corruption and organised crime.

“Bulgaria and Romania have made considerable efforts to complete their preparations for EU membership since the commission issued its last report in May. Bulgaria and Romania are sufficiently prepared to meet the political, economic and acquis criteria by 1 January 2007,” the report said.

EC was going to strictly examine the progress in these areas and if such was missing, the commission was going to request the introduction of safeguard clauses.