Bulgaria still suffers from political corruption and further measures would be needed to counter it, French ambassador Yves Saint Geours told Darik Radio.

Since the beginning of Bulgaria's political transition in the early 90s, politics, justice and criminal organisations became interrelated, Saint Geours said. This system still functions and is involved in money laundering and corruption, Darik reported.

EU member states were positive that Bulgaria could still join the EU in January 2007, Saint Geours said.

A solidarity principle was functioning in the EU, the French ambassador said. Once a political decision has been taken for a country to become a member state, all institutions pursued this goal, Saint Geours said.

The political decision concerning Bulgaria was that the country would join the EU with the best possible conditions for it, said Saint Geours.