A series of progress reports have been carried out by the European Commission, to assess whether Romania and Bulgaria were ready for EU membership. Although the reports go through the different aspects of the acquis communautaire, this article aims to focus only on aspects affecting health in the three reports leading up to the confirmation that Bulgaria and Romania will join the EU.
The 2005 progress report
With regards to agriculture and food safety, Romania and Bulgaria generally met the requirements and commitments arising from the accession negotiations. However, for both countries, there were some serious concerns for veterinary public health (agri-food establishments).
Most of the acquis in the area of gender equality had been implemented by Sofia and Bucarest. However, discrimination and ill-treatment of the Roma community was reported in Romania, which posed great concerns for the European Commission. Trafficking in human beings for use as street beggars was also pointed out. More generally, both reports showed that further improvements in childcare and child protection were necessary in Bulgaria and Romania in order to meet the political criteria.
Regarding occupational health and safety, the majority of the acquis concerning risk exposure of workers (eg vibration, noise) was transposed, although asbestos still represented an area where progress needed to be made.
In the field of public health, Romania and Bulgaria had to transpose the directive focusing on blood and blood components, tissues and cells. Combating trade in human egg cells needed to be sustained in particular in Romania. Both countries had also complied with the requirement to establish National Action Plans for the surveillance and control of communicable disease.
Access to healthcare - especially preventive services - was reported as being in need of reform in both countries. The reports targeted Sofia and Bucarest’s capacity to improve the health status of the population, especially vulnerable groups. Here again, the discrimination against the Roma community was pointed out in Romania. Romania was also challenged on the ill-treatment of mental ill health. The situation in psychiatric hospitals needed to be addressed urgently according to the European Commission, although it recognised efforts already made by the Romanian Government.
Progress reports from 2006
Two more progress reports have been issued in the past year. The last of these monitoring reports was adopted by the Commission on 26th September 2006 and revealed that both Bulgaria and Romania have made significant progress and will become members of the EU.
As outlined above the 2005 report described a number of areas where progress was needed if both countries were to meet European Union requirements. The May report gave an update on these issues.
With regards to preventative measures and the protection of vulnerable groups, the May report highlighted that both countries had made improvements. Romania has reformed systems of care for both the disabled and mentally ill, whilst Bulgaria have taken new policy initiatives in the sector of mental health and disabilities, with an increase in social support for the disabled.
Despite changes to the mental health systems in both countries, the report did assert again that more was required to improve the conditions of psychiatric institutions.
Significant improvements were reported in child protection in Romania however Bulgaria were once more required to improve conditions surrounding child welfare.
The issue of human trafficking and discrimination of the Roma community were again brought up as issues of concern which needed to be addressed by both countries.
In terms of agriculture and food safety, both Romania and Bulgaria were said to have improved in the area of veterinary public health.
From the May report it was clear that both countries had advanced on health issues but still needed to make a number of improvements. Unfortunately the September report focuses only on issues which were classed as urgent in the May report and on what both countries need to implement by June 2007.
As a result it is not possible to say whether the issues relating to human trafficking, discrimination, conditions in psychiatric institutions and child welfare have been addressed by both countries.
In terms of the requirements laid down by the EU, both countries are to ensure a more transparent and efficient justice system, to introduce more effective mechanisms to prevent fraud and corruption, better financial control measures and agriculture administration.
The only measure which relates to health in the September report is that of food safety. Both countries will continue to be prohibited from trading live pigs or exporting pork products, whilst Romania is required to correct its sub-standard measures on BSE with certain agri-food establishments being banned for three years.
The Commission has confirmed that failure to comply with European food safety standards will lead to further transitional measures being imposed.
For more information:
Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Bulgaria 2005
Comprehensive Monitoring Report on Romania 2005
Comprehensive Monitoring report on Romania and Bulgaria May 2006
