20.4.2007

Bulgaria On The Right Track, Reform Progress Impressive- Poettering

All Bulgarians should know that the country managed to achieve a lot and has completed various reforms related to its EU entry already, European Parliament president Hans-Gert Poettering said.

On April 19 Poettering arrived on a visit to Bulgaria and met Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and various other officials.
Justice reforms are a delicate issue but institutions should keep on carrying them out, Poettering said.
Stanishev said that the reform pace will remain unchanged despite the fact that Bulgaria is already EU member state. All institutions had the will to meet European requirements.

Bulgaria expects fair and balanced European Commission report on its reform progress, Stanishev said. The report should note progress achieved since the autumn of 2007, he said.
Only united Europe can deal with the competition, Stanishev said. Bulgaria was going to work for strong, efficient and transparent union proceedings, he said. Internal strengthening of the EU and its main institution is essential to achieve the goal.

Poettering and Stanishev also discussed the trial of the five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya. Stanishev said that Bulgaria relied on EU support for a changed outcome of the trial.

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