Austria will wait for the final European Commission report on Bulgaria and Romania's reform progress, before ratifying the accession treaty of the two countries, Austrian justice minister Karin Gastinger said.

Previously Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said the ratification process would end fast. Austria is concerned about Bulgaria and Romania's progress in the fight against organised crime and corruption, Gastigner said. As a result Austria would wait for the EC report before initiating the procedure, the Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Gastinger said if measures against these problems are not undertaken the EU membership of Romania and Bulgaria might be postponed.

Germany is another EU member state that would wait for the EC report before initiating the ratification process. This week the vice-president of the Bundestag Suzanne Kastner visited Bucharest. Kastner said the ratification would be fact the latest in September.