Rep.: Successive enlargements over the past decade have increased the bloc to 25 Member States. Which lessons have been learned from these experiences to pave the way forward for further enlargement? A carefully managed enlargement process is one of the EU's most powerful and most successful policy tools. The pull of the EU helps the democratic and economic transformation of countries. All European citizens benefit from having neighbours that are stable democracies and prosperous market economies. The EU cannot abandon its responsibilities. But the pace of enlargement also has to take into consideration the EU's absorption capacity. The Commission stands for a transparent, fair and objective accession process. This process is built on three principles: consolidation, conditionality and communication. We have to consolidate our existing commitments towards the countries already in the enlargement process. The EU cannot abandon its responsibilities to ensure security, stability and prosperity on its own continent and further afield. We have to insist on conditionality. The countries have to respect the criteria to the letter. The EU must remain rigorous in demanding fulfilment of its criteria, but fair in duly rewarding progress. Aspirant countries can only proceed from one stage of the process to the next once they have met the conditions for that stage. We have to communicate better than we have been able to do so far. Broad public support is essential for a sustainable enlargement policy. The Commission is aware of the concerns of EU citizens about European integration in general, and enlargement in particular. The EU needs to communicate better the objectives and challenges of the accession process and how it deals with the countries. Rep.: The Commission published its report on the progress of Bulgaria and Romania on 25 October. The report clearly indicates that further reforms are necessary by both countries before joining the Union. What are your prospects for achieving this aim in time? Our assessment is that both Bulgaria and Romania have achieved significant reforms over the last years and even recently made good progress in their preparations. However there are still some important shortcomings that have to be remedied urgently. Both countries must still go the last mile. I believe that they should be able to meet the requirements of EU membership for the envisaged date of accession on 1 January 2007 provided they concentrate all their efforts on the reforms. The leadership and the people in Bulgaria and Romania should consider our remarks very seriously and take them as an incentive for further work. The Commission will continue to closely monitor their preparations. Our final assessment will be made in April or May 2006. We shall see at this time whether we can go ahead as planned or whether we shall propose the postponement of the accession of one or both countries by one year. I hope it will not be the case but we would not hesitate to recommend the postponement should any or both countries be manifestly unprepared for accession. Rep.: It is necessary for widening as well as deepening of the Union to move forward in parallel in order to ensure another decade of success for Europe. Is this still possible without an EU Constitution? The EU is currently in a period of reflection as far as the Constitutional Treaty is concerned. However this process has no direct impact on the current enlargement. The adjustments to the Council voting system for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania are covered by the Nice Treaty. Institutional adaptation can also be done in the framework of the accession treaties. Clearly, Europe needs more effective decision-making, more democracy and openness and a reinforced common foreign and security policy. We have to find the best ways and means to make the EU function better. But this has to be done, for the sake of Europe, clearly long before we even see the sight of the conclusion of negotiations with Turkey in 10 or 15 years. Enlargement is about sharing a project based on common principles, policies and institutions. The Union has to ensure it can maintain its capacity to act and decide according to a fair balance within its institutions; respect budgetary limits and implement common policies that function well and achieve their objectives. (D.E.) Copyright: Willy Brandt Programme Newsletter of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament