Romania's Chief EU Negotiator: We Will be Ready for Membership in 2007

In its latest country report, the European Commission concluded that Romania "complies with the criterion of being a functioning market economy". However, the 2004 report also expressed concerns about freedom of the press and high-level corruption, and Brussels is insisting that a "safety clause" be added to the Accession Treaty, allowing for postponement of Romania's membership by one year if it fails to meet its commitments. Meanwhile, the country now faces the task of completing three difficult negotiation chapters before the end of the year. Despite these challenges, Romania's Chief Negotiator with the EU, Vasile Puscas, remains optimistic.