Schroeder: Bulgaria, Romania to Become EU Members

Bulgaria and Romania will be part of the European Union (EU) even if their accession is delayed by one year, said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. In his words, Croatia will also join the EU if its authorities start cooperating more effectively with the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

Given the situation in Iran, talks with Turkey should be taken more seriously, Schroeder said, cited by the Bulgarian National Radio.Iran announced August 1 it would resume its controversial nuclear programme imminently in the face of a European Union appeal to wait for talks.In the beginning of this month, Bulgaria's outgoing European Affairs minister Meglena Kuneva said there was a considerably lesser chance for Bulgaria's EU entry to be delayed than before.

August will give enough opportunity to catch up with the reforms parliament is supposed to be ready with by September, she said. Bulgaria and Romania are set to enter the EU on January 1, 2007. However, fears exist that their entry might be delayed.

source