THE DUTCH EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTER TO VISIT BULGARIA AND ROMANIA

From 6 to 8 April, Atzo Nicolaï, the Minister for European Affairs, will visit Bulgaria and Romania. The visits are mainly in conjunction with the accession of both countries to the European Union. Mr Nicolaï will talk to various government representatives about the efforts the two countries have made in the run-up to accession, which is expected to take place in January 2007.

Accession negotiations with both countries were completed at the end of the Dutch EU Presidency. It was agreed that both countries still had to carry out reforms in a number of areas before they could accede. Romania, in particular, still needed to take various concrete measures, particularly in the field of justice and home affairs and competition.

The talks will also cover bilateral relations with both candidate countries and the broader EU agenda.

In Sofia, Mr Nicolaï will meet prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, foreign minister Solomon Passi and European integration minister Meglena Kuneva. At the end of the day he will speak to a group of Bulgarian editors-in-chief, publishers and journalists on "Communicating Europe". On the evening of Thursday 7 April he will talk to members of the Bulgarian parliament's European Affairs Committee.

In Bucharest, Mr Nicolaï will meet president Traian Basescu, prime minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, European integration minister Ene Dinga and justice minister Monica Macovei. Together with culture minister Monica Musca, Mr Nicolaï will attend a reception at the Cultural Institute, where he will present a study on the most promising sectors for cultural partnership. He will also speak to the national anti-corruption prosecutor Ioan Amarie and the president of the Superior Council of Magistrates, Dan Lupascu.