Don't Humiliate Us, Bulgarians Warn Eu

Bulgaria warned the European Union yesterday not to "humiliate" it next week when Brussels rules on whether the country is ready to become a member state. Sergei Stanishev, the prime minister, said that postponing entry would be perceived as outright rejection.

"It would be a mistake. We are not second-class Europeans. Do not try to humiliate us," Mr Stanishev was quoted by the Associated Press as saying in Sofia.

His intervention was designed to increase pressure on the European commission, which is due to decide next week whether to allow Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU next year.

Bulgaria has become nervous because the EU has raised concerns about its criminal justice system. This prompted speculation last week that Olli Rehn, the commissioner for enlargement, would delay a decision until the autumn.

Mr Rehn is understood to be considering a number of options before he makes a recommendation to the full commission next week. Bulgaria is generally seen to have fallen behind Romania in implementing a series of reforms to its economy and criminal justice system.

One idea is to delay Mr Rehn's announcement until the autumn to put pressure on Romania and Bulgaria to speed up the pace of reform.

Other ideas include allowing the two countries to join next year while placing "red flags" on either or both to block their participation in justice and home affairs in the EU.

Mr Rehn could also delay Bulgarian and Romanian entry - which is meant to take place on January 1 next year - by 12 months. Another option would involve allowing in Romania but not Bulgaria. But Mr Rehn is reluctant to choose this option because it would be seen as a serious blow to Sofia and might be regarded as a hostile act.