The sixth enlargement of the European Union: Romania and Bulgaria

Since January 1, 2007, Romania and Bulgaria are members of the European Union. This date marks, on the one hand, the end of a thirty year process of approximation of these two Balkan States to the European common space; and, on the other hand, the beginning of a new process, this time of real integration within the same. This second phase will not be easy due to the precautions, the amplitude of the safeguard clauses, the transitional dispositions and the established monitoring and control mechanisms. It will also not be easy due to the amplitude of the necessary economic and social reforms, which these two “lower Danube” countries must undertake and are undertaking. Furthermore, these two Balkan countries have benefited and they are still benefiting from a considerable financial pre-accession assistance and the current funds in order to make easier this hard process. In this sense, the aim of the presentation is double: firstly, to analyse the way which has lead to the signing of the Accession Treaty of these countries to the European Union; and, secondly, to emphasize the challenges and difficulties met by both these countries and the European Union to make real its integration in the European space.