site.btaNovember 20, 2002: EP Votes Jan. 1, 2007 as EU Accession Date for Bulgaria

On November 20, 2022, the European Parliament (EP) voted January 1, 2007 as the date for Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the European Union (EU). The news were broken by former National Assembly chair Ognyan Gerdzhikov (2001-2005), who led a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation in Strasbourg where it took part in the debates at the EP on the future of the EU.

Following are excerpts from BTA English Service's coverage of the event:

European Parliament Votes that January 1, 2007 Be Fixed as EU Accession Date for Bulgaria, Says National Assembly Chairman Gerdzhikov

Sofia, November 20 (BTA) - The European Parliament voted that January 1, 2007 be fixed as the date for accession to the European Union of Bulgaria and Romania, National Assembly Chair Ognyan Gerdzhikov said Wednesday, back home from Strasbourg.

Gerdzhikov headed a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation to the November session of the European Parliament.

"The European Parliament resolution is a positive sign for Bulgaria, but a similar step must be taken at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen in December," Gerdjikov said. In his view, the motion was carried thanks to the votes of the Liberal Party and part of the MEPs of the European People's Party.

According to the National Assembly Chairman, Bulgaria has every reason to believe that January 1, 2007 will be fixed as its EU entry date at the Copenhagen Summit.