Les Echos - France | Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The EU asks Romania and Bulgaria for further reforms
The European Commission announced on Tuesday, May 16 that it was delaying a final decision on the EU entry of Romania and Bulgaria until October, asking them to step up their efforts to satisfy European criteria between now and then. The economic daily evokes "the return to finicky severity" by the EU. "Tomorrow's candidates, not to even mention Turkey, will get the message. Those who for years have been worrying about the disintegration of an overexposed Europe, and demanding that the Unions's geometric borders finally be fixed, will come away discreetly reassured. But more than a return to reason, and a determination to consolidate that which the Union has already won in order to bounce back better, what we are witnessing is a timid withdrawal into national interests. Under the pretence of catching our breath after the progress made on the forced march of European construction, we are seeing an admission of political impotence and an absence of ambitions."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Romania, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Françoise Crouïgneau
» To the complete press review of Wednesday, May 17, 2006