AT the Copenhagen European Council, the EU will take a decision on a new road map for Bulgaria and completion of the process of its accession by January 1, 2007, Danish ambassador to Sofia Christian Faber-Rod said.
He was speaking to members of the Bulgaria-EU joint parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Faber-Rod said that the Brussels European Council recognised the progress the country had made, as well as the need for a detailed road map for accession and providing pre-accession financial support.
Since the start of negotiations with the EU, Bulgaria had achieved a lot in reforming and aligning its legislation to the EU, and the European Commission supported Bulgaria in its efforts to enter the EU in 2007, he said.
Christof Stock of the EC delegation in Sofia noted the changes to the Penal Code, including the removal of discriminatory texts, and the improvement of the legal framework for fighting organised crime and trafficking in people.
He said that the EC would continue to support Bulgaria financially through three instruments: Phare, ISPA and SAPARD. In 2002 Bulgaria got 100 million euros under Phare and another 28 million euros for the programmes for trans-border co-operation with Romania and Greece, Stock said.
European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva reiterated Bulgaria's desire to get an updated road map to EU membership with accession deadlines and a commitment to additional funding, if the sides keep up the pace of negotiations.
She hoped that no new conditions will be put for the membership candidates of the next wave of enlargement.
She also said that this country hopes to get observer status during the period to its actual accession.
"The fifth wave of EU enlargement will not be complete unless all membership candidates find their due place in the European structures," Kuneva said.
Bulgaria expects the Copen-hagen Summit to adopt a road map naming 2003 and 2007 as the dates in which the country will conclude the accession talks and join the EU, respectively, said National Assembly Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov. Bulgaria expects an extended pre-accession strategy and additional financial support in the coming years, as well, Gerdjikov added.
Addressing a meeting of the Danish presidency of the EU with the 13 countries seeking EU membership in Copenhagen Monday, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg emphasised Bulgaria's expectations that the Copenhagen summit in December would say clearly what financial support Bulgaria could expect as it strives to become an EU member.
Saxe-Coburg voiced satisfaction with the results of the Brussels European Council late last week and more specifically with the call that the EC and the Council of the European Union prepare the necessary decisions concerning a detailed roadmap for Bulgaria's accession. He hoped for EU accession no later than 2007.
At a news briefing with Bulgarian reporters after the meeting of the Danish side with the candidate countries, Saxe-Coburg said that each of the future EU members was given the floor and everybody's position and problems were heard, as well as what is expected of the 13 countries and what the EC believes they are yet to do.
He added that the issue of a possible EU peer review of the safety of Units 3 and 4 of Kozlodui nuclear power plant was not discussed.
Returning from his visit to Denmark late on Monday evening, Saxe-Coburg said that the signals coming from the EU with regard to Bulgaria's progress towards membership were very positive.
"I have the feeling that what Bulgaria hopes for will come true," Saxe-Coburg said.
He was speaking to members of the Bulgaria-EU joint parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Faber-Rod said that the Brussels European Council recognised the progress the country had made, as well as the need for a detailed road map for accession and providing pre-accession financial support.
Since the start of negotiations with the EU, Bulgaria had achieved a lot in reforming and aligning its legislation to the EU, and the European Commission supported Bulgaria in its efforts to enter the EU in 2007, he said.
Christof Stock of the EC delegation in Sofia noted the changes to the Penal Code, including the removal of discriminatory texts, and the improvement of the legal framework for fighting organised crime and trafficking in people.
He said that the EC would continue to support Bulgaria financially through three instruments: Phare, ISPA and SAPARD. In 2002 Bulgaria got 100 million euros under Phare and another 28 million euros for the programmes for trans-border co-operation with Romania and Greece, Stock said.
European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva reiterated Bulgaria's desire to get an updated road map to EU membership with accession deadlines and a commitment to additional funding, if the sides keep up the pace of negotiations.
She hoped that no new conditions will be put for the membership candidates of the next wave of enlargement.
She also said that this country hopes to get observer status during the period to its actual accession.
"The fifth wave of EU enlargement will not be complete unless all membership candidates find their due place in the European structures," Kuneva said.
Bulgaria expects the Copen-hagen Summit to adopt a road map naming 2003 and 2007 as the dates in which the country will conclude the accession talks and join the EU, respectively, said National Assembly Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov. Bulgaria expects an extended pre-accession strategy and additional financial support in the coming years, as well, Gerdjikov added.
Addressing a meeting of the Danish presidency of the EU with the 13 countries seeking EU membership in Copenhagen Monday, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg emphasised Bulgaria's expectations that the Copenhagen summit in December would say clearly what financial support Bulgaria could expect as it strives to become an EU member.
Saxe-Coburg voiced satisfaction with the results of the Brussels European Council late last week and more specifically with the call that the EC and the Council of the European Union prepare the necessary decisions concerning a detailed roadmap for Bulgaria's accession. He hoped for EU accession no later than 2007.
At a news briefing with Bulgarian reporters after the meeting of the Danish side with the candidate countries, Saxe-Coburg said that each of the future EU members was given the floor and everybody's position and problems were heard, as well as what is expected of the 13 countries and what the EC believes they are yet to do.
He added that the issue of a possible EU peer review of the safety of Units 3 and 4 of Kozlodui nuclear power plant was not discussed.
Returning from his visit to Denmark late on Monday evening, Saxe-Coburg said that the signals coming from the EU with regard to Bulgaria's progress towards membership were very positive.
"I have the feeling that what Bulgaria hopes for will come true," Saxe-Coburg said.
