EU accession, four years and 3bn euros away

The EU Summit held in Copenhagen at the end of last week did not bring any surprises, although tension prevailed over debates until the very last minute. It resulted, as anticipated, in 10 new states (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) being invited to join the EU in 2004.
Besides specifying 2007 as the target accession year in the final document of the summit, and besides the promise of more funds, Romania and Bulgaria were reassured in Copenhagen that the dates negotiated with the current EU members so far would not be challenged by the ten countries that will join the Union on May 1, 2004. This was an important specification to be made, because the accession treaty of Romania and Bulgaria will have to be ratified by 25 members instead of the current 15, and the newcomers naturally have their own agenda, which might clash with the issues already negotiated by Romania and Bulgaria.
Beyond this provision, there were no surprises involving the two countries, as it was a well-known fact that Bucharest and Sofia had been promised the final document of the summit would explicitly stipulate that EU enlargement was an irreversible process, that 2007 was the target accession date and that a clear road map would be specified for the pre-accession period, which should come with more funds.
The document also specifies that the accession negotiations with Romania and Bulgaria would continue according to the same principles as in the case of the first 10 applicants, but each applicant state will be judged separately, depending on its merits. This particular specification was requested by Bulgaria, which feared postponement for a later date in spite of the fact it was further along the path than Romania, in the event Bucharest did not make sufficient progress until 2007.
The road map Romania is to receive from the European Commission stresses on the need to speed up economic reform, privatisation and infrastructure development, so that the domestic market could withstand the EU competition.
The early elections issue brought up again due to the summit in Copenhagen has come down to the “depends on who convinces whom” point. That is whether President Ion Iliescu convinces PM Adrian Nastase or the other way around.
The two leaders at the end of last week said the decision to organise early elections would depend on who convinces whom. Iliescu and Nastase directly discussed the issue in a joint news conference organised in Copenhagen.
The Chief of State continues to oppose organising early elections. To Iliescu, it is still uncertain whether early elections are the best solution, given the pros and the cons.
“I for one have my reservations, but this is a matter we will discuss and we shall look for that particular solution that is best suited for what the country needs at this moment,” Iliescu said.
“I for one could not agree more with Mr. President. I have only one reservation about Mr. President’s reservations, but I hope we will get through to him,” the PM said.
Ion Iliescu retorted:” That depends on who convinces whom.”