ROMANIA and Bulgaria are barely on course for joining the European Union in January 2007, and need to speed up reform.

That is the thrust of yesterday’s report from Brussels on the next two countries already far along the conveyor belt towards joining the EU.

It says that they meet the basic criteria of democratic politics and a functioning market economy. But it says that they need to make urgent reforms on courts, the environment and corruption if they are to meet other EU standards.

It will judge finally in April or May whether their entry should be accepted for January 2007, or delayed for a year. But it gives warning that the EU could withhold some benefits even after they are members if they have not improved.

It says the EU will refuse to pay out money if it fears the funds will be corruptly misused, and refuse to let the countries’ farmers export food if they have not met health standards.

Despite years of receiving financial help from Brussels in preparation for joining, the former Soviet bloc countries remain very poor. Their gross domestic product per person is about a third of the average of the EU members (including the new, poorer Central European countries admitted last year). It is about a quarter of that in Britain.

But it is almost inconceivable that their admission could now be derailed completely. True, every existing member has to ratify their accession (as several have already done).

However, since Brussels pronounced their applications completed last December, it has been a matter of “when”, not “if”. Romania, with 22 million people, also has powerful backers, notably France, while Bulgaria, with just 7.5 million people, has few obvious opponents who would think it worth rocking the boat.

Both governments yesterday pronounced themselves encouraged by the report and said complying with its complaints was their priority.

A Romanian official said: “There is political will to step up the reforms, resources are available, public opinion support is high and therefore the goal of accession according to the schedule is fully within reach.”

The Commission itself is not quite as upbeat as that. It does note progress in both countries on freedom of expression; in petty corruption in Bulgaria; and in child protection and integration of minorities (such as gypsies) in Romania.

But the report declares that “there are a limited number of specific gaps in both countries’ preparations which give cause for serious concern. Without immediate action they will most likely not be able to fulfil their obligations in those areas by January 1, 2007”.

For both countries, the concerns include corruption, counterfeiting, justice, farming and food standards, and the environment.

Times Recommends

• A track to Shangri-La: Bhutan gets first rail link
• Avatar takings hit $600m in ten days
• Bomb disposal squad is Times’s Team of the Year