Bulgaria made significant progress in the past year in its efforts to meet the accession criteria, according to the regular report adopted in November 2003 by the European Commission. The country’s objective of accession in 2007 must remain the firm focus of Bulgaria and Romania's preparations and the European Commission said it would support them in achieving this goal.

“The Commission is fully committed to maintaining the momentum of the negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania” Commissioner for Enlargement Gόnter Verheugen said in November 2003.

“However, it is equally important that the quality of negotiations is ensured. Indeed, it is important to recall that negotiations should go hand in hand with real progress made by the countries on the ground.”

The EC said that Bulgaria and Romania had continued to make significant progress over the last year in implementing the accession criteria. They both continue to fulfil the political criteria, and were closer to fulfilling the economic and acquis criteria.

The EC said that accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania would continue on the same basis and principles that applied to the 10 acceding states, in particular the principle based on own merits. The pace of negotiations would be determined principally by progress made by the negotiating countries in incorporating EU laws into their national legislation and in building the capacity to implement and enforce it effectively. The Commission will continue to monitor the fulfilment of the negotiating countries' commitments.

“The Union's stated objective is to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as members in 2007, depending on further progress in complying with the membership criteria,” the EC said.

The EC said that, in order for accession to take place in 2007, a common Accession Treaty for Bulgaria and Romania should be signed at the latest towards the end of 2005, which would require that negotiations be finalised in due time before that. This is to be preceded by the Commission's final recommendation on the readiness of Bulgaria and Romania for accession.

The timing of the conclusion of the negotiations will depend on the real progress made on the ground and in the negotiating process on the basis of each country's own merits.

The Commission will present to the Council, at the beginning of 2004, a three-year common financial framework for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in order to prepare the ground for the completion of negotiations. This financial framework should be based on the principles and methodology developed for the negotiations with the ten acceding countries. On this basis, the Commission will then propose to the Council common negotiating positions dealing with the financial implications in the fields of agriculture, regional policy and budgetary issues.

The European Union web site publishes regular updates of the state of play in regard to chapters closed in accession negotiations, at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations.