Brussels, 11/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Enlargement Commissioner, Günter Verheugen, said on Monday that economic and structural reforms in Bulgaria were on the right track and that the "target date" for the country's accession to the EU in 2007 could be and should be respected. Even after the end of negotiations with the first ten accession countries, the enlargement process should continue for Bulgaria and Romania, by respecting the strategy and target date set out by the EU, without any change to the rules of the game that were decided when negotiations were begun, emphasised the Commissioner in an address to the press following meetings with the Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister, Solomon Passy. According to the Commissioner, it is possible to progress in negotiations with Bulgaria (which still has to finish discussions in seven chapters out of a total of 31) but the Commission will certainly not be able to present its draft common positions to Member States on negotiating the chapters that have strong financial implications (agriculture, budget, regional policy etc.) without having a clearer idea on the next EU financial perspectives (2007-2013). 2003 will be "a crucial year" for Bulgaria, according to the Commissioner because the next regular Commission report (expected in the autumn) will have to provide a clear indication on the success or lack of, of ongoing reforms in the country. Minister Passy believes that the success of the Prodi Commission whose mandate expires on 1 November 2004), will be measured by its capability to finish accession negotiations with all twelve countries, including Bulgaria. Sofia considers that discussions will be finished by the middle of 2004.
The issue of Iraq and the very pro-US stance of Bulgaria on the matter was also discussed, especially so, given that Bulgaria is currently on the UN Security Council. Mr Verheugen categorically refused to "speculate" about the possible consequences emanating from Bulgaria's position (he said that they involved two very different issues and should not be confused) but warned that it did appear that open divergences between Sofia and several current Member States had already had a braking effect on the technical aspects of accession negotiations over recent months.