Bulgaria: membership application and partnership, 14 December 1995

PURPOSE: presentation of the second 'accession partnership' for Bulgaria. CONTENT : Like its previous version, this partnership for the accession of Bulgaria resembles a work programme proposing priorities and objectives to be attained by the country in the short and the medium-term in order to become a member of the Union. These objectives take into account the regular report on Bulgaria (1999). The short-term priorities (end of 2000) concern political criteria (introduction of a framework programme for the Roma people), economic criteria (restructuring of companies, improvement of bankruptcy procedures and the restructuring of the steel sector) ; the internal market (basically continuing the harmonisation process) ; agriculture, transport, energy (closure of units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy plant), environment, social affairs and employment, justice and home affairs (implementation of the Schengen agreement) and the strengthening of administrative and judiciary capacity (in particular the management and control of EU funds). In the medium term, the measures will concern the implementation of the framework programme to resolve the Roma question and maintaining overall macro-financial stability. In the area of the single market, the complete liberalisation of public procurement is essential, as are alignment and the strengthening of customs controls. Further measures are envisaged in the area of agriculture, fishing, energy (in particular, the nuclear sector), transport and the environment, and the improved operation of the legal system. With regard to the programming of financial resources, the partnership confirms aid granted in line with AGENDA 2000 and the various instruments provided therein (Phare, SAPARD and ISPA) in accordance with the rules already foreseen. It should be noted that assistance is only granted if the country respects the provisions of the EC-Bulgaria Association Agreement, makes progress towards satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and assures in the year 2000 the achievement of the specific priorities of this accession partnership.�