By Robert Wielaard
Bulgaria and Romania signed their accession treaties yesterday with the European Union, setting the stage for their entry into the 25-nation club in 2007, if they complete the necessary political and economic reforms on time.
Leaders from the two former communist Balkan countries signed their respective treaties at the old Neumuenster Abbey in the historic center of Luxembourg city.
Their signatures were met with warm applause at the ceremony, attended by Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and other top EU officials.
Juncker, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said Bulgaria and Romania still need to do much, but have come a long way.
“The truth is that Bulgaria and Romania... have not known freedom as we have” in postwar Europe. “Today we put an end to that,” he said in a speech ahead of the signing.
The two treaties, placed on a table behind a placard saying “welcome,” were also being signed by each of the 25 member states.
Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov and Romania’s President Traian Basescu signed along with their prime ministers and foreign ministers.
“It is the first important document that is being signed after World War II that attempts to change the future of the Romanian people,” Basescu said ahead of the signing.
“After 45 years of communism and 15 years of transition, finally, Romania is signing the document which gives back its dignity as a European country.”
The entry accords must still be ratified by the legislatures in all 25 EU countries over the next 20 months.
Romania and Bulgaria have no guarantee of joining in 2007 because their accession deals contain a proviso that may trigger a one-year delay in their entry. The European Commission is to issue an update in November on how the two Balkan countries are doing in their reform efforts.
(The Associated Press)