11/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The economic and social situation in Bulgaria and Romania has to improve, Eurocop President Heinz Kiefer said on 4 April. “In order to fight corruption and organised crime efficiently it is as important to introduce modern internal regulations into the police and to significantly improve the economic and social situation of police officers as it is to reorganise the justice system”, he said. Of the opinion that this aspect was not considered as a priority during negotiations, Mr Kiefer calls on the EU and Member States to “increase their efforts in this direction” to meet the remaining challenges in the area of justice and home affairs in the EU in 2007. These concerns echo those expressed by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn (EUROPE 9167).