ROMANIA: Romania vowed yesterday to redouble its efforts to join the European Union in 2007, after the EU Parliament sharply criticised it for failing to take action in a range of areas covered by EU entry negotiations.
The European Parliament, using the toughest language an EU body has used against the Balkan country so far, told Romania on Thursday it stood no chance of joining the EU in 2007 unless it fought corruption, reformed its judiciary, guaranteed media freedom and respected human rights.
"What we received from Brussels is a warning and I can assure you that we take it very seriously," Foreign Minister Mr Mircea Geoana told reporters. "We have an action plan ... to make sure we get a good (EU progress) report in September."
Government officials, relieved the EU Parliament did not demand the suspension of negotiations, said Prime Minister Mr Adrian Nastase would go to Brussels next week for talks with Enlargement Commissioner Mr Gunther Verheugen.
Analysts said the latest reprimand might be a signal that EU officials planned to "decouple" negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania and let the faster-moving Bulgaria join the EU alone. "It's looking increasingly likely that there might be a decoupling," said Mr Mark Percival, managing director of the Romania ThinkTank.
EU officials have blamed corruption and a weak judicial system for hindering progress, and urged Romania to enforce respect of human rights and press freedom.