Bulgaria urges EU equality

Bulgaria reiterated calls that its EU membership be judged on its "own merit", under the same rules applied to the May 2004 European enlargement.

"What is very important for us is to follow the same principles that were applied... with the first ten acceding countries," Euro-affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva told EUpolitix.com.

"This means to transpose the principles and methodology of the first ten to the case of Bulgaria."

Minister Kuneva expressed Sofia concerns that political considerations - and "coupling" of Bulgaria's membership with Romania - could override the country's progress in playing by the EU rulebook.

"I would just wish the best to our neighbours and once more affirm that for Bulgaria it will be a double success if we can join the union together with Romania," Minister Kuneva said.