"Welcome to the people of Bulgaria and Romania", says ALDE leader Graham Watson

6.27.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Apr 2005

Today, EU foreign ministers are set to sign in Luxembourg the EU accession treaty of Bulgaria and Romania. At this occasion, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe leader, Graham Watson said: "I warmly congratulate the liberal governments of Bulgaria and Romania who have implemented an impressive series of reforms. I am confident that both countries will meet the full commitments made in the negotiations to join the EU on 1 January 2007".

According to Graham Watson, Europe faces today many global challenges. "Either we choose to join forces to have a greater impact on the challenges we face, or else Europe will stay on the sidelines. By bringing in Romania and Bulgaria into the EU, our Union will be more efficient in tackling immigration policies as well as environmental, economic and security challenges", he insisted.

Bulgaria and Romania were given the green light to start accession negotiations in 1999. The process was officially completed in December 2004. On the 13th April 2005, the European Parliament gave its formal assent to accession, which paved the way for today's signing of the accession treaty.