EU, Bulgarian officials discuss country’s membership

EU, Bulgarian officials discuss country’s membership

Franco Frattini had a brief meeting with President Georgi Parvanov, and was also due to hold talks with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

Bulgaria is hoping to join the EU on Jan. 1 along with neighboring Romania, but has been told it must make clear progress in fighting corruption and crime or face the prospect of a year's delay. A final decision is expected in September.

Despite a string of mafia-style slayings in recent years and frequent reports of alleged high-level corruption, there have been no prominent arrests, according to the AP.