GERMANY will ratify Bulgaria’s European Union (EU) accession treaty before the end of the year and will not block Bulgaria’s membership to the EU, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s foreign minister, told a news conference on February 6. He made the announcement after meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Ivailo Kalfin, who was on a one-day visit to Germany.

Steinmeier gave assurance that the German government was interested in Bulgaria’s membership to the Union and would start the ratification process immediately after the European Commission’s (EC) monitoring report was published. The report is expected to be released on May 17.

Kalfin’s visit to Berlin was prompted by concerns that the ratification process in Germany could take about nine months due to various administrative requirements.

Steinmeier said that the recent pace of reforms in Bulgaria gave grounds to believe that the next EC report would be more positive than that of October 2005.

“Germany is especially interested in the fight against corruption and organised crime in Bulgaria,” he said.

Talks over initiation of the ratification process were being held with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Steinmeier said.

Kalfin briefed Steinmeier on the legislative changes made in Bulgaria and the progress of ongoing reforms, particularly in the field of justice and home affairs, the two areas strongly criticised by the last EC report.

“For us, the ratification process is not only a technical procedure but also a political sign towards Bulgaria,” Kalfin said.

So far, 11 member countries have ratified the treaty. Only three countries have not launched a ratification procedure: France, Germany and Sweden.

Steinmeier also acknowledged Bulgaria’s efforts as a factor for stability in the region.

“Bulgaria’s role in the Balkans is highly appreciated and the country is among the main partners participating in the settlement of controversial issues in the region,” he said.

At the end of the press conference, Steinmeier offered aid in the case of the five Bulgarian nurses imprisoned in Libya.

Kalfin also held meetings with German Bundestag committee leaders. After meeting Ruprecht Polenz, Germany’s foreign affairs committee chairman, the two officials gave a news conference.

“We expect the date of admitting Bulgaria into the EU to be January 1 2007. The date may be changed only if the European Commission report recommends a different date, but we do not expect this to happen,” Polenz said.

The decision still pends on when to start the German ratification procedure for the EU Accession Treaty with Bulgaria.

“The current changes in Bulgaria are under the close scrutiny not only of Brussels, but also of the German Bundestag,” Polenz said.

The committee members were interested in Sofia’s position on the settlement of the Kosovo conflict.

“As a future member of the EU, Bulgaria can and should play a key role in processes in the Balkans,” Polenz said.

Another meeting was held with Matthias Wissmann, Germany’s EU affairs committee chairman, who said: “We want you into the EU as soon as possible, but that depends on you.”

Wissmann also said that all members of his committee, representing various political forces, favour Bulgaria’s planned EU membership, but they were against any political compromises. This position, Wissmann said, was even more solidified after the “no” votes in the European Constitution referendums in France and the Netherlands.

Before ending his visit to Germany, Kalfin attended a discussion hosted by the Science and Politics Foundation, which involved officials of leading political foundations, members of the Bundestag, German foreign ministry representatives, and specialists working with various government institutions.

So far, 11 EU members have ratified the EU accession treaty - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Ratification is in its final stages in the Netherlands and the UK. Near-term ratifications are expected in Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.