European diplomats, quoted by the Financial Times, warned Bulgaria and Romania to accelerate reforms in order to be admitted into the European Union (EU) on January 1 2007.

Yet they expressed confidence that the EU 25 governments will agree with the entry of the two countries as scheduled, despite problems with their judicial systems, border security and food safety.

The Accession Treaties with Romania and Bulgaria were signed April 25, 2005. Since then, the EU Commission has been monitoring Romania’s and Bulgaria’s compliance with their commitments and will issue its verdict report on May 16.

In its monitoring report in October last year, the European Commission focused on the fight against corruption and food safety measures, fields marked with "red flags," that might delay the entry date for both countries.

The entry issue is to be debated upon at June meetings of EU foreign ministers and leaders.

Some conditions were imposed to Bulgaria and Romania in order to be accepted into the EU, and by not fulfilling them it could trigger a saving clause that would delay the countries’ accession in time.

All 25 EU states need to complete the ratification process by December 31 for the treaty to come into force. So far, 12 out of the EU’s 25 member states have ratified the treaty.