Roadmaps for Bulgaria and Romania

1) OBJECTIVE

To draw up roadmaps setting out the main steps to be taken by Bulgaria and Romania to ensure that they are ready for accession.

2) ACT

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 13 November 2002 - Roadmaps for Bulgaria and Romania [COM(2002)624 - Not published in the Official Journal].

3) SUMMARY

In its 2002 strategy paper for enlargement, the Commission indicated that roadmaps would be adopted for Bulgaria and Romania. They were in fact adopted at the Copenhagen European Council held on 12 and 13 December 2002. The communication contains these roadmaps, aimed at helping Romania and Bulgaria to meet the necessary criteria before accession (the European Council supports the efforts of both countries to join the Union in 2007). To achieve this goal, the roadmaps set out the tasks to be completed by these countries and provide additional financial assistance.

Among the tasks to be carried out, the roadmaps concentrate, in particular, on the administrative and judicial capacities required in the countries to enable them to implement the acquis and on economic reform.

The Commission proposes a substantial increase in the financial assistance for Bulgaria and Romania from the first wave of accessions (which should take place in May 2004). It proposes that the assistance should be increased gradually until 2006, when it should total 40% more than the average assistance granted to both countries from 2001 to 2003. All additional assistance will be conditional on making progress in line with the roadmaps and each country's capacity to use the funds effectively. The instruments used will continue to be the same, in other words Phare, ISPA and SAPARD. Additional aid will be used to help Bulgaria and Romania prepare for participation in the Structural Funds.

The roadmaps cover the period up to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and will be updated periodically in view of progress in the negotiations and developments in the countries.

The Commission will continue to monitor the progress and implementation of the commitments made at Bulgaria's and Romania's accession negotiations, in particular through the regular reports published each year. The next regular reports will contain an assessment of the implementation of the roadmaps.

Roadmap for Bulgaria

The roadmap for Bulgaria concentrates on administrative and judicial capacities, economic reform and the chapters of the acquis. The current situation in these three areas is described and steps to be taken are indicated. As regards administrative capacity, a reform strategy should be drawn up. As regards judicial capacity, the Commission expresses its support for the implementation of a strategy and action plan for the reform of the judicial system. As far as economic reform is concerned, priority should be given to the following aspects: the privatisation programme, development of small and medium-sized businesses, the programme to reduce and simplify licensing procedures, reform of the customs and tax administrations, bankruptcy procedures, development of financial intermediation, enforcement of property rights, transactions and prices of agricultural land, and public investment in education, the environment, health and infrastructure. Finally, for each of the chapters of the acquis, the necessary measures are indicated.

Roadmap for Romania

The roadmap for Romania also concentrates on administrative and judicial capacities, economic reform and the chapters of the acquis. The current situation in these three areas is described and steps to be taken are indicated. Key areas for the reform of the public administration and the reform of the judiciary are highlighted. The Commission will support these reforms through the Phare programme. Priority areas for the economic reform are set out: rate of inflation, inter-enterprise arrears, wage bill in the public sector, energy costs, tax reform, budgetary reform, bankruptcy procedures, development of financial intermediation, enforcement of property rights, transactions and prices of agricultural land, public enterprise reform, completion of privatisation in the banking sector, public investment in infrastructure, education, the environment and health, and reduction of State aid. Finally, for each of the chapters of the acquis, the necessary measures are indicated.

Last updated: 23.01.2007