Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures Bulgaria has taken to meet membership criteria for the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6845/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 130: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures Romania has taken towards meeting membership criteria for the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6819/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 130 together.

The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union will mark the completion of the fifth enlargement process, which will increase the Union's membership to 27. The Union's objective is to welcome both countries as members in January 2007, if they are ready to meet the responsibilities and obligations of membership.

The Commission's annual monitoring reports for Bulgaria and Romania were published on 25 October 2005, providing a comprehensive overview of the progress made by both countries towards fulfilling the requirements of membership. For both countries, a number of red flag issues were identified as needing urgent attention before the date of accession. These included the need to tackle corruption, piracy and counterfeiting, improve justice systems, and meet EU agriculture and food safety requirements. The Commission's reports also expressed concerns about these countries' ability to absorb EU structural and cohesion funds.

Intensive work is continuing in both countries in order to address the problems highlighted in the Commission's reports. Their progress in implementing the necessary reforms is being closely monitored by the Commission and the member states. The assessment in the next Commission monitoring reports, which will be issued in May 2006, will form the basis for a final recommendation to Council as to whether or not Bulgaria and Romania will be ready to join the Union on 1 January 2007. If it is found that either country falls short of this target, the Commission could recommend that the Council postpone the date of accession until 1 January 2008.

The EU-Bulgaria Association Council on 31 January 2006 provided a timely opportunity to review Bulgaria's progress ahead of the Commission's next monitoring report. This meeting expressed a firm expectation that Bulgaria will urgently address all outstanding issues in order to reach the objective of acceding to the EU on the 1 January 2007. The EU-Romania Association Council is scheduled to take place on 20 March 2006.

Ireland is providing assistance to both Bulgaria and Romania as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs' bilateral assistance programme, which is designed to help new member states and candidate countries prepare for the challenges of EU membership.