Bad EU report card for Romania and Bulgaria

The bad EU grades for Bulgaria and Romania are a burden on candidates for EU accession from the West Balkans, writes Doris Kraus. "So it's a rather unfortunate coincidence that Bulgaria and Romania's first year of membership in the EU is currently being graded, and at the same time no one knows how to proceed with the West Balkan states in general and Kosovo in particular. Because most political actors privately admit that last year's accession of Bulgaria and Romania was a mistake. The facts are on the table. These countries were neither politically nor economically ready for the EU, and they've slipped further since receiving the carrot of EU-accession. 'We can't let it happen again,' say the most direct critics. ... The West Balkan states will have to pay the political price."

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