The UK supported fully Bulgaria’s EU entry on January 1 2007, parliamentary under secretary Baroness Ashton of Upholland said during a meeting with Interior Minister Roumen Petkov.

Petkov presented all measures undertaken to counter corruption and organised crime in the country. The ministry was working to meet the requirements of the European Commission, as well as of Bulgarian citizens, Petkov said.

The UK would be happy to work and co-operate with Bulgaria within the EU, once the country became member, Ashton said.

Bulgaria achieved a lot and the progress made was visible, said she.

Petkov said that Bulgaria received significant UK aid in its attempts to harmonise local legislation with European. Bulgarian investigators also received help from their UK counterparts, said Petkov.