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----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 12:12 AM
Subject: [romania-economics] news EU welcome gets mixed reaction in
Balkan candidates By Dina Kyriakidou BUCHAREST, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Governments in Romania and Bulgaria on Wednesday welcomed the European Union's praise for reforming their Soviet-style economies but some of their people doubted the Balkan countries were ready to join the EU in 2007. Noting the progress made by both countries towards establishing market economies and free democracies, the EU's executive Commission said the two nations could join the wealthy bloc in two years' time but more progress was needed on human rights and the rule of law. The EU report also said Croatia should start entry talks early next year, confirming expectations the more economically advanced Balkan country was on the right path. While the Commission bestowed the status of "functioning market economy" on Romania for the first time, it said it still had a number of concerns, including the trafficking of women for prostitution, persistent corruption and slow judicial reforms. "I am sceptical as to whether Romania can meet EU standards, especially on the issues of corruption and press freedom, mainly because of our bad track record but also because our political elite has trouble understanding Western standards," said Dan Turturica of the respected Evenimentul Zilei Bucharest daily. Almost 15 years after the overthrow of Stalinist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, graft remains Romania's top problem. Some 30 percent of Romanians live in poverty. Over the last 18 months, more than 20 journalists, many of them investigating corruption, have been attacked but no one has been charged, prompting international protests. PEOPLE SCEPTICAL Despite witnessing the revival of their economies from the brink of collapse in the 1990s to robust growth rates, average Romanians and Bulgarians said their countries were not ready to join the EU. "We don't deserve to join the EU in 2007, we are not ready. What we badly need is better wages to raise our children," said Diana Benciu, 43, a horticulturist in Bucharest. "After that, maybe we can celebrate joining the EU." Whether subsisting on backyard farming in the impoverished countryside or struggling to pay heating bills in decrepit communist building blocks, people said prices were quickly rising to Western European levels but salaries remained low. Per capita gross domestic product remains at about 30 percent of the EU average. Like Romanians, people in the streets of Sofia, which has made better progress, are sceptical. "It will take more than two years to get ready for accession. Bulgaria is not ready. Nothing is right, people live miserable lives here," said Maya Dimitrova, 22, a student. Sofia has already wrapped up negotiations but Brussels has criticised it for rampant organised crime, human trafficking, drugs and money laundering. "The EU report declares Bulgaria ready to join in 2007, but there are still some issues we need to address to get into the EU fold," Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg told the state Bulgarian agency. With Croatia, the Commission introduced a safeguard clause which said talks with the former Yugoslav republic could be suspended should Zagreb be deemed in breach of basic criteria for democracy, human and minority rights, the free market and cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague. "From today Croatia enters a new era," Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul told Reuters. "The progress in negotiations will depend primarily on Croatia." (Additional reporting by Bucharest, Sofia and Zagreb bureaux) 10/06/04 15:26 ET EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Contact: Oana Gheorghiu - 252.1947 / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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