Bulgaria amends constitution to join EU

SOFIA: Bulgaria's parliament adopted constitutional amendments on Friday to enable the Balkan state to sign a European Union accession treaty in April and join the EU in 2007. The law's approval removed a potential hurdle ahead of the treaty signing date after analysts said political instability could delay the legislation and complicate Bulgaria's aim of wrapping up the pact with the EU.

Approved by 226 of parliament's 240 deputies, the amendments allow Bulgaria to elect deputies to the European parliament, let foreigners buy land seven years after EU entry, and make other EU-related changes.

"A modern world of better democracy and fewer boundaries is opening in front of us," acting parliamentary speaker Kamelia Kasabova told the chamber. "We are finally on the way to taking our place among the family of European democracies."

Bulgaria and its northern neighbour Romania missed out on the EU's expansion into ex-communist Europe last year, mainly due to their lagging behind in economic reform. Polls show more than 70 percent of Bulgaria's eight million people support joining the bloc.