Five EU members ask for tough monitoring of Romania, Bulgaria
published in issue 3916 page 5 at 2007-04-20 http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii <http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=politics&id=20070 419-507627> &categorie=politics&id=20070419-507627 The European Union is becoming more concerned about the development of justice reform in Romania and Bulgaria and the measures taken against corruption in the two countries, 'Realitatea TV' reported, quoting BBC. Thus, five members of the EU - Great Britain, France, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands have recently asked for a clearer and more consistent monitoring of the two countries as regards their progress in legal system reform and the fight against corruption. The initiative is likely to increase pressure on triggering the safeguard clause for Romanian and Bulgaria. According to the same source, the five countries' ambassadors to the European Union asked for a meeting at the middle of April with Catherine Day, the General Secretary of the European Commission, who coordinates cooperation with Romania and Bulgaria. The five envoys asked for increased transparency in the measures taken by Sofia and Bucharest, saying that they "have the feeling that the reform mechanism is not used properly and doesn't have enough resources." During the meeting with Day, the five diplomats asked that all results of the European Commission's checks on Romania and Bulgaria progress be communicated to other member states. The five countries' initiative is not de facto a request that the safeguard clause be triggered, said BBC, but is more an attempt to increase pressure on the two countries so that they take concrete measures in the monitored fields. by <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Nine oClock ---------------------------- Vali "Noble blood is an accident of fortune; noble actions are the chief mark of greatness." (Carlo Goldoni) "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)
