A draft European Commission report that circulated among Commission officials on Thursday did not contain a date recommendation on whether Romania and Bulgaria should join the EU in 2007 or 2008, according to Reuters which managed to obtain the document.

Moreover, the draft writes that even if the two countries join the bloc on time, they will not enjoy the full financial aid from the EU because key reforms have yet to be completed. However, there has not been written down a conclusion yet, it remains to be filled in before the EC will issue the report on May 16.

Romsania's problematic issues that concern the European officials relate to the establishment of payment agencies for farm subsidies and shortcomings concerning computer system for tax collection. Since the last report in October 2005, Romania has reduced the number of red flags, to four from 14 and Bulgaria to six from 16.

More areas of concern are reported on Bulgaria, among which the investigation and prosecution of organised crime networks, the efficiency of the laws for the fight against fraud and corruption.