12/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Markos Kyprianou (health, consumer protection) is holding meetings on Thursday with Bulgarian president Parvanov, prime minister Stanishev, European affairs minister Kuneva, agriculture minister, Kabil and the minister for health Gaydarski. On Friday Kyprianou will go to Bucharest to meet the most senior authorities in Romania: president Basescu, prime minister Popescu and ministers of agriculture, European integration and health. In both countries, the main subject of discussion will be the state of accession preparations: food safety, animal welfare and phytosanitary issues. In the Commission's monitoring report last May, Bulgaria and Romania were criticised for failing to comply with EU legislation on mad cow disease (BSE) and other infectious diseases.