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Bulgaria
Bulgaria was not included in the list of countries invited to join the EU in 2004.
However, Bulgaria will sign an EU accession treaty in April 2005 and, depending on
the pace of reforms, is on course for membership in 2007.
Prime minister Simeon has pledged to fight corruption. His government has pushed ahead with
economic reform and has achieved growth. Unemployment has fallen from highs of nearly 20 per
cent and inflation is low. However, the Bulgarian people have shown signs that they are tired
of waiting to enjoy the fruits of this success. Incomes and living standards remain low.
It's not only from the economic point of view that EU entry criteria pose hurdles
for Bulgaria. Corruption, the weak judiciary and discrimination against the Roma minority
also worry Brussels.
Under pressure from the EU, the Bulgarians agreed to shut the two oldest
nuclear reactors
at the end of 2002. Brussels demands that two of the remaining four
reactors must close by 2006.
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Did you know? |
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European Commission has published a report about differences between car prices in EU. Germany is the most expensive country for car buying, while Estonia is the cheapest. The cheapest country for buying a car in the area of 'Eurozone' is Finland, so example three quaters is 20% more expensive in Germany than in Finland. Cars have averagly expensed apropos on the last year for 0.5% and mostly in Poland (7.4&), on the other hand the most cheapest cars are in Estonia (8%).
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engl/did_you_know.php |
