Brief News:The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee gave overwhelming support to Bulgaria's quest for membership of the EU in their report adopted on 23 November but the MEPs urged Sofia to implement reforms in several keys areas. According to the committee, Bulgaria must show "increased and visible determination [...] to demonstrate in a concrete manner" that action has been taken before April 2006, when the Commission is due to decide on the country's accession date. The areas singled out by the committee included the fight against organised crime and high-level corruption, the need to reform the judiciary, the integration of the country's Roma population and the improvement of Bulgaria's border control. The committee report was adopted by 52 votes in favour, with six abstentions. In a separate vote, the MEPs adopted 62 amendments to the committee's report on Romania. The MEPs acknowledged the significant progress made by Bucharest in its accession process, but demanded urgent action in the country's fight against corruption, environmental legislation, the integration of the Roma population and international adoptions of children. The vote in the committee was 55 in favour, two against and five abstentions. Recalling the findings of the Commission's 9 November report on the country's progress, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said prior to the committee meeting that "although Romania will face many challenges in the months to come, Bucharest is on the right EU accession track". Bulgaria and Romania both aim to join the EU as full members on 1 January 2007. The EP's plenary session will vote on the two reports in mid-December. Mircea
Halaciuga, Esq. Arbitration Judge
European Commission Expert, Member Int'l Bar Association [EMAIL PROTECTED] 0040724581078 http://hometown.aol.com/arbitraj/myhomepage/business.html *** sustineti [romania_eu_list] prin 1% din impozitul pe 2005 - detalii la http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/unulasuta.php *** YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
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