MEPs give blessing to Bulgarian and Romanian EU membership

The European Parliament on Wednesday (13 April) voted overwhelmingly in favour of Bulgaria and Romania's EU accession in 2007.

This was the last step for the two countries to take, before they sign their Accession treaties on 25 April in Luxembourg.

Full membership would then follow on 1 January 2007.

The Parliament's role would normally stop at this point. But the Commission has struck a deal with MEPs to keep the Parliament involved in the monitoring process after the sign...