Bulgaria and Romania signed an accession treaty with the European Union today, clearing the final hurdle to join the bloc as early as 2007.
The two ex-communist Balkan states will join the 25-nation bloc on January 1, 2007, provided they carry out reforms to fight corruption, strengthen border controls, beef up their justice and administration, and improve rules on state aid to industry.
If they do not, their membership could be delayed until 2008, according to the 860-page treaty signed by Bulgarian, Romanian leaders and the EU foreign ministers.
