"We are on the eve of an epoch-making event". It’s one voice, that of the ambassadors of Romania and Bulgaria to Italy, Cristian Colteanu and Nicola Kaloudouv, the two countries that on 1st January 2007 will join the European Union, thus bringing the member states to 27. At a press conference held today in Rome, promoted by the Italian membership of the European Union, the two diplomats highlighted that "Bulgaria and Romania will bring a wave of euro-optimism into the EU. The accession now must be followed by the implementation of the principles and the reforms asked by Europe as part of the integration process". "Extension of the markets and trades, security, rights, democracy and more political stability within the Balkans" are the main contributions that, according to Colteanu and Kaloudouv, the two countries of the ex Soviet bloc will give to Europe. According to the deputy President of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, "Romania and Bulgaria will help stabilise the Balkans, by playing a key role also in Albania, Bosnia and FYROM, which have a strong European bent and where investments can be safely made". "Both countries have a Christian-Orthodox majority he concluded and this will also boost dialogue between cultures and religions that are not an obstacle but an asset for the EU".
