BULGARIA:The European Commission criticised Bulgaria and Romania for not doing enough to tackle corruption and criminality yesterday but stopped short of applying sanctions.
In a report assessing the two states' progress since joining the EU, the commission said there was a need to step up efforts in the pursuit of judicial reform and the fight against corruption. It also highlighted the threat of organised crime in Bulgaria, and warned that the prosecution of alleged contract killings was still insufficient.
"High-level corruption is still a point of weakness," said EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini about the two states, which joined the EU in January 2007.
The progress reports were toned down at a college of commissioners' meeting prior to their publication, with several commissioners, including Ireland's Charlie McCreevy, attempting to remove some of the toughest references in the text.
Mr Frattini, who has been criticised for being too soft on Bulgaria, said the reports were not a "blaming and shaming exercise".
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the findings, he emphasised new reforms that had been introduced. "The reports are fact-based and fair. They make clear that both governments have demonstrated good will and determination in their commitment to the judicial reform process and the cleansing of the system of corruption."
The commission said it was too early either to decide on possible sanctions or to remove the threat of sanctions. It mooted the possibility of "safeguard clauses" or halting some EU funding unless reforms are undertaken.
The commission said it would issue further progress reports early next year and in mid-2008.
Several EU states have criticised the commission for not scrutinising Bulgaria and Romania's reforms adequately. Both countries were allowed to join in 2007 despite concerns over their commitment to fighting corruption, criminality and organised crime.
Senior Romanian and Bulgarian politicians welcomed the report. Romanian prime minister Calin Tariceanu said it "shows our efforts are paying off but that there are still problems to solve".
Bulgarian EU affairs minister Gergana Grancharova said the report was "fair and objective".
"The big challenge . . . remains to speed up procedures in the justice system and have enough court sentences with convictions," he said.