Brussels, 03/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is preparing to send “early warning letters” to Bulgaria and Romania in the next few days, warning the governments of the two candidate countries about the need to take urgent measures in a series of areas in order to meet the accession criteria by 1 January 2007. The Commission is generally pleased with preparations carried out by the two countries with a view to EU membership but enhanced monitoring has revealed certain delays in adopting and implementing the Community body of law in several key sectors. The early warning letters from the Commission will concern the following chapters: - for Bulgaria: free provision of services, company law, agriculture, environment, justice and home affairs; - for Romania: free movement of goods, company law, competition policy, agriculture, taxation, environment, justice and home affairs. The spokesperson for Commissioner Olli Rehn (enlargement) pointed out that, after the French and Dutch referendums on the Constitution (where the fears of citizens towards EU enlargement also played a role), the Commission will keep an even closer eye on strict compliance with accession criteria by each candidate country. The Commission will present its monitoring reports on Romania and Bulgaria “towards end October, early November”.