By Henrietta Billings - 29th March 2005
An influential committee of MEPs has backed calls for Romania and Bulgaria to join the EU in 2007, clearing the way for the signature next month of EU membership treaties.
The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee gave a strong signal on Wednesday to all 732 MEPs to endorse the signature of the accession treaties at a full plenary vote on the issue on April 13.
The vote in the parliament's assembly, is the final hurdle before Sofia and Bucharest can sign the treaty on April 25.
Both Eastern Balkan countries are hoping to join the EU's 25 member bloc on January 1 2007, but the EU has reserved the right to delay the entry of both countries by one year if they fail to make adequate reforms - such as independent judiciary, organised crime and corruption.
After the vote some MEPs voiced concerns about parliament's role in monitoring the accession preparations of both countries - including the EU's final say on whether to postpone entry to 2008.
"This vote indicates continued support for Romania's accession aspirations whilst sounding a note of frustration that parliament's assent will be its last formal word on the subject whilst the commission and council continue to raise the possibility of invoking safeguard clauses if commitments are not fulfilled," said Emma Nicholson MEP, ALDE group spokesperson on Romania's accession application.
"In future accession processes, parliament should be fully involved at every stage."
Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn said the Commission would take parliament's views into account when it publishes its monitoring report on Bulgaria and Romania expected in November.
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