European Commission (EC) refrained from imposing safeguard clauses on Bulgaria, but local authorities should not delude themselves, German deputy foreign minister Gernot Erler said.

The country’s development would be monitored for one more year and the pressure on Bulgaria would be almost the same as under safeguard clauses, Erler told Deutsche Welle (DW) Radio.

In the end of June 2007, the EC issued a report on Bulgaria’s development after the EU accession.

Erler found Bulgaria’s constitution amendments a positive development, just like legislation and fight against low-level corruption. He said that he hoped that Bulgaria would have achieved better results.

The country’s achievements in high-level corruption and fight against organised crime were insufficient.

These key fields were the most obvious for society since they affect Bulgaria’s image as EU member, Erler said.

Some fields seemed to harm high-level politicians’ interests, Erler said. Probably the same people are ready to do whatever the EU requires as far as it does not harm their egoistic interest.