Schroder bolsters Balkan states' EU dreams

EU: The bids of Romania and Bulgaria to join the European Union in 2007 won the backing of German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder yesterday.

His support came a day after Brussels gave the two Balkan nations a "yellow card" over the slow pace of crucial reforms.

Officials in Bucharest and Sofia vowed to intensify efforts to root out corruption, improve their judicial systems and overhaul other legislation in line with Brussels' demands, after the French and Dutch rejections of the EU constitution were partly attributed to public disillusionment with expansion into central and eastern Europe.

But on a visit to Berlin, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu heard words of staunch support from the German leader.

"Some think they can help Europe by delaying the admissions that have been agreed," Mr Schröder said.

"I decidedly am not among those who want that. If Romania meets the conditions, it must be allowed to join the Union in 2007," he added.

"This is an unbelievable, historic chance for these countries, because culturally and historically, they belong to Europe."

The vote of confidence was welcomed by Mr Tariceanu, whose government issued a statement last week to reassure a worried Romanian public that the votes against the constitution did not mean its accession bid had been derailed.

He received more support yesterday from Jiri Paroubek, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, one of eight central European nations which joined the EU last year.

"At this point, we cannot be in a position not to show solidarity with those countries who expect European Union entry in a shorter time period or let's say in the mid-term horizon," Mr Paroubek said.

"That means Bulgaria, Romania and also Croatia. I think it is in our interest for them to be here."

Olli Rehn, the EU's enlargement commissioner, insists that there is no question of suspending enlargement but has admitted that the climate for expansion is "particularly challenging for the moment".

With that in mind, he has urged Romania and Bulgaria not to give any country a reason to call for their membership to be postponed for one year, as envisaged by a clause in their accession agreements, which can be activated if reforms are insufficient.