Romania and Bulgaria, recently accepted in the European Union, have a long way ahead of them before being considered real European countries, an article in the online edition of International Herald Tribune, reads, quoting an Associated Press comment.

The European Union fears that the new members are backtracking on reform, the same article comments.

"For new EU member Romania, corruption is simply a fact, even a way, of life. (...)

Last week in Brussels, both countries escaped legal sanctions but they were singled out for criticism over a lack of progress in fighting widespread corruption and organized crime", the article reads.