I'm not one to start threads of this kind here too often, but
seriously, isn't 2007 way too soon allow these poverty ridden, heavily
corrupt countries to enter?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4440755.stm


EU backs Bulgaria and Romania bid
MEPs vote over Romanian, Bulgarian accession
Bulgaria and Romania's entry was approved despite disagreements
The European Parliament has voted to allow Bulgaria and Romania to
join the European Union in 2007.

Their eventual membership still depends on both countries reforming
areas such as farming and security, as well as making efforts to fight
corruption.

The vote opens the way for an accession treaty to be signed later this
month.

Some MEPs tried to postpone the vote until after the next European
Commission report on the two countries' progress, which is due in
November.

A disagreement over how much money is to be given to the countries was
also resolved last minute, allowing for the vote to take place.

Romania and Bulgaria are both are poorer than all 25 existing EU
member states.

The two Balkan countries missed the first round of EU expansion into
Eastern Europe because they had failed to implement democratic and
market reforms.

Opponents of the accession cited Romania's lack of press freedom as
well as corruption as obstacles.

Bulgaria has been criticised for failing to adopt a new
anti-corruption penal code and insufficient efforts in combating
organised crime.

No guarantee

The European Commission report tracking the countries' preparation for
membership will be published in November.

Romania is required to reform its justice and law enforcement, curb
industrial state subsidies and improve environmental records.

It must also secure rights for its Roma minority.

Bulgaria's parliament speaker Borislav Velikov said he was "grateful
to our colleagues in the European Parliament for their support for
Bulgaria on its road toward the European Union".

The accession treaty does not absolutely guarantee the countries EU
membership in 2007.

If either country fails to meet the agreed criteria, their accession
could be postponed until 2008.

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DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
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Deep Foiled Malls wrote:

    > I'm not one to start threads of this kind here too often, but
    > seriously, isn't 2007 way too soon allow these poverty ridden, heavily
    > corrupt countries to enter?
    > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4440755.stm


It's a few years too soon...maybe by say 2010 or so?

Wonder when Albania will be admitted? ;-p

--
Best
Greg

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:18:20 GMT, Deep Foiled Malls
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:

    >I'm not one to start threads of this kind here too often, but
    >seriously, isn't 2007 way too soon allow these poverty ridden, heavily
    >corrupt countries to enter?
    >http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4440755.stm

Unless the original six are planning to have left by then.

nitram schrieb:
    > On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:18:20 GMT, Deep Foiled Malls
    > <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote:
    >
    >
    >>I'm not one to start threads of this kind here too often, but
    >>seriously, isn't 2007 way too soon allow these poverty ridden, heavily
    >>corrupt countries to enter?
    >>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4440755.stm
    >
    >
    > Unless the original six are planning to have left by then.

and become part of the Confoederatio Helvetica?????


;-p ;-p ;-p