Pursuing the path of reforms, combating corruption, ensuring a fair system of justice and making further progress in the field of human rights and the protection of minorities: these are the main recommendations made by the European Commission in its Report on the process towards membership of Romania and Bulgaria, presented in Strasbourg on 17 May. Underlining “the many steps that still need to be taken” by the two countries, the Commission has deferred until October any final decision on the date of the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the “common home”. EU Commissioner for Enlargement, the Finnish Olli Rehn, recognized however “the varied progress made by these two countries in taking on board the acquis communautaire” and the “good economic results” they have achieved, confirmed by the growth of gross domestic product and the “development of an open and dynamic market”. The accession date is meanwhile fixed for 1st January 2007, but confirmation of this is dependent on the next report of the Commission, expected in the autumn, and the final decision taken by the heads of state and of government of the 25.
