The reform of the judiciary is a top priority for Bulgaria in the next months, underlined Jose Barroso, President of the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday, reported BTA.

Barroso and European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn are in Sofia to inform the Bulgarian side of the conclusions in the report of the European Commission.

Bulgaria achieved clear results over the past few months and is capable of reaching the final on Jan. 1, 2007, provided it overcomes the shortcomings, especially in the judicial reform and fighting corruption, the EC executive told a news conference after meeting Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev Wednesday.

He pointed out that the Bulgarian authorities and people should accept the EC recommendations as an encouragement.

It is time to achieve concrete results in concrete spheres, Barroso added, not later than October the EC will make a review of the situation in the problematic areas and will decide whether the accession date is feasible.

Bulgaria's entry in the EU on Jan. 1, 2007 is a common goal but that it is the duty of the Commission to guarantee that the country is well prepared, said Barroso.

"We are at a stage when we have to show not only a wish but also practical steps and action both in the field of legislation and in the practical implementation of all European standards," Sergei Stanishev said.

He stressed once again that the EC report is objective and to the point, well-balanced and precise.

According to Stanishev, a meeting of experts of the Bulgarian government and the EC will be held next week to specify the parameters of the action plan for the coming months.

In a keenly awaited progress report released on Tuesday, the EU executive said Bulgaria and Romania will have to wait until the last minute to find out whether they can join the bloc in 2007, or have to wait for another year.

The last monitoring document seems to be published in this October, in which the EC heads will decide the final destinies of the two Balkan countries.

Source: Xinhua