"The unscrupulous attempt to postpone the vote on Romania and Bulgaria failed", says Graham Watson

5.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Apr 2005

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is delighted that the European Parliament gave its assent vote by an overwhelming majority this morning to Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the EU, which will complete the fifth enlargement. "There was an attempt by some unscrupulous factions. of the EPP and Green groups to delay today's vote for narrow-minded political reasons, but I'm happy that the majority of the House was wise enough to make a responsible decision .Once again Jean-Claude Juncker, the President in Office of Council was forced to come to the rescue of the EPP at the eleventh hour in concluding an agreement on the financing of accession", said ALDE Graham WATSON, after the vote. "Accession is not given. Croatia has proven that. The EU sets standards and expects future members to demonstrate both the willingness and the ability to uphold them. Both Bulgaria and Romania have strong and stable Liberal Democrat governments so I would expect nothing less!" he added.

Emma NICHOLSON, ALDE group spokesperson on Romania accession application declared "Romania has achieved her goal, barring unforeseen extreme events". She added that Romania had "met and passed many challenges and most particularly children's rights which are now securely embedded in Romania". Nevertheless, "more work on corruption is needed, but this is ongoing and will not hold up the integration". She forecasts that an additional year "would certainly not be needed".

According to Annemie NEYTS, foreign affairs coordinator on behalf of the ALDE, "The ALDE has said yes to the assent of both countries accession. We have received assurances from the Council and the Commission that Parliament will secure a monitoring role to speak its mind throughout the whole accession process. Now, it is up to both countries to complete what is necessary in order to prepare its entry to the EU on the 1st January 2007. The next steps are in Bulgaria and Romania's hands". Graham WATSON stressed that "This is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a longer journey that all EU member states take together".

This week in Strasbourg, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe hosted a two day visit for ten Romanian and Bulgarian members of national Parliaments in order to discuss the countries' accession to the EU.