Claudie Haignere: Bulgaria Has Come Long Way towards EU

French Minister-Delegate for European Affairs Claudie Haignere vowed France's full support for Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, pinned for 2007, during her one-day visit to Sofia. Bulgaria has come a long way towards the European Union membership, showing determination and will, Haignere said following her meetings with Bulgarian counterpart Minister Kuneva and Foreign Minister Solomon Passy. Haignere voiced confidence that the European Parliament will give its approval to the Bulgarian and Romanian accession treaties on April 13, as recommended by its foreign affairs committee earlier this week. France's Minister-Delegate for European Affairs reiterated the words of Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, who recently told Bulgaria's Parliament that the overarching challenge for the country remains the reform of the judicial system. Speaking days after the French government kickstarted its campaign for a "yes" to the European constitution, Claudie Haignere said France will not face insurmountable difficulties winning the referendum on the proposed new constitution, which is planned for May 29. Haignere was decorated with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry's Golden Laurel Badge for her support for the country's EU membership and her personal contribution for the development of bilateral relations.