Today, Romania and Bulgaria find out whether Europe gives them a clear answer or whether it has another surprise in store for them, which would keep them guessing the date of the adherence. Even though, on the whole, the both Governments have found out the things they should be expecting, the final decision of the European Commission could mean a total turnover.
It is regarded as a crucial report that will take the final decision on the adherence issue in the cases of Romania and Bulgaria. Now, there are more and more sources saying the monitoring report that the European Commission will make public today will be no more than another "checkpoint" in the Romanian and Bulgarian European race. A point in which the two countries are thoroughly checked and after which they are allowed to continue. Getting on to a sidetrack or going around landmarks could mean pulling over, and the greatest risk is for the entire race to end in 2008.
MINIMUM RISK. Romania has a minimum risk to miss the targeted adherence date, January 1st 2007, at present. According to the reportâs project, its homework is satisfactory as far as the points that could have meant the delay are concerned. Moreover, its efforts have been welcomed by good references in Brussels as well as in other European capitals. The European press articles in the week before the publishing of the monitoring report of the European Commission prove this. Like never before, Romania is not the one criticized. International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, Financial Times or Le Monde have changed the registry and they published analyses that target mainly the corruption in Bulgaria, the difficulties in the administration of the border with Turkey and the insufficient reforms of the justice.
NO ONE KNOWS. Theoretically, the Romanian authorities shouldnât expect any great surprises from the European Commission.