Brussels, 07/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - the European Commission President Romano Prodi will, next week, visit Romania (12/13 January) and Bulgaria (13/14 January) to discuss with high ranking Romanian and Bulgarian officials the state of preparations for the adhesion of the two candidate countries. The results of the Helsinki European Summit in December where central to the discussions, especially the Member States decision to begin negotiations for adhesion with these two countries (as well as with Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia and Malta) next February 15.
The Commission services indicated on Monday that, in Romania, Günter Verheugen, the Commissioner for enlargement, would accompany Mr. Prodi.