Brussels -- The European Commission on Thursday welcomed Bulgaria and Romania to the EU ahead of their formal accession to the bloc on January 1, seven years after beginning membership negotiations.

The EU will be represented at official celebrations in Bulgaria and Romania by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country takes over the rotating EU presidency on January 1.

"EU accession will bring concrete improvements to the every day life of citizens ­ such as safer food, cleaner environment, and better roads," Rehn said.

"They (Bulgaria and Romania) deserve congratulations for impressive reforms in strengthening democracy, modernising their countries, making their justice systems more efficient and independent," he added.

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said January 1, which marks the end of the fifth round of EU enlargement, was "an historic day." // © 2006 DPA

Romanian women working on European Union flags at a textile factory in Bucharest Thursday 28 December 2006. Romania will officialy join European Union on 01 January 2007. PA/ROBERT GHEMENT

Publication date: 29 December 2006   

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