EU Enlargement 2007: A Full Stop? EUMA Papers, Vol.4 No.1 January 2007

Gudjonsdottir, Vilborg Asa. (2007) EU Enlargement 2007: A Full Stop? EUMA Papers, Vol.4 No.1 January 2007.

Abstract

[Introduction]. On the 1st of January 2007 Romania and Bulgaria became members of the European Union. The 2004 enlargement of the EU has had its difficulties and many wonder if these two Eastern European countries are in fact ready to join the EU. Although their economies are growing fast, both countries are poor in income as well as in public spirit. Bribes are routine and officials tend to be badly trained, ill-paid and often corrupt, with the worst corruption in both countries occurring in the customs service. Similar problems exist in the countries´ judiciaries.1 Improvement efforts have not proved efficient enough, especially in Bulgaria where many suspect that changes will not be effective since political will is lacking at the top. Romania is at least willing to prosecute corrupt politicians while in Bulgaria the process has hardly begun. The existing EU members are most worried about the free movement of workers, and it is foreseen that more member states will impose restrictions on the free movement of workers from these countries than did so for the 2004 enlargement.2 How bad is the situation in the public sector of these two soon to become EU countries and what other things need to be considered?