Bulgaria, along with Romania, joined the European Union (EU) on Monday. The following are major events in Bulgaria's EU bid to enter EU:

Sept. 1990 -- Bulgaria joins the Phare Program.

Oct. 1990 -- European Council mandates European Commission to start preliminary talks with Bulgaria on signing Europe Agreement.

Dec. 1995 -- Bulgaria's official application for full EU membership is submitted to the Madrid Summit.

March 1998 -- European Commission adopts Accession Partnership setting short-term priorities for Bulgaria.

Feb. 2000 -- Negotiations with Bulgaria and the rest of the Helsinki Group countries are formally launched in Brussels.

Nov. 2003 -- European Commission publishes Roadmaps for Bulgaria and Romania.

Dec. 2003 -- EU summit in Brussels decides that Bulgaria will join the EU on Jan. 1, 2007.

Sept. 2006 -- European Parliament recommends admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU on Jan. 1, 2007.

Source: Xinhua