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Bulgaria and Romania have been separated from each other by "walls of prejudice and ignorance" for a long time, but this is changing as the prospect of EU membership nears. The countries are strengthening their partnership and learning to get to know each other better, thanks to involvement in common EU projects, according to a report for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). In fact, although the countries have a common border, they do not know much about each other, and this ignorance has been spreading pejorative clichés and prejudices, the analysts said. Marked by a "fake fraternity" during communism - 1965 to 1989 - Bulgaria and Romania developed a relationship of mutual hostility in the 1990s, while competing for the approval of the EU and the US. But with EU intervention, the countries have managed to look beyond some of their long-lasting rows, the report says. For example, Bulgaria and Romania have been fighting for years over topics such as pollution, energy and where to situate a second bridge over the Danube. ------------------------- EU's uniting role ------------------------- The EU's role in solving these disputes was not to "decide who's right", but to impose higher environmental standards on both countries, as in the case of air pollution. Or to oblige them to modernise their facilities, as happened with the nuclear power plants. The closing of four of the six reactors of the Bulgarian Kozloduy nuclear power plant was set as a pre-condition to start EU membership talks. The new plant Bulgaria is to build will have to comply with high safety standards. Romania's only power plant (in Cernavoda) will be completed and upgraded as well. The EU is financially supporting both projects. It has given 500 million euro to Bulgaria for the modernisation of the two newer reactors of Kozloduy and 223.5 million euro to Romania. Europe's pressure and financial assistance have also helped the countries to solve the row concerning the construction of a second bridge over the Danube Bulgaria and Romania's natural border. Disagreements on location and lack of funds had stopped the realisation of the project. An agreement was reached in 2003 and the bridge is to be completed in 2006. Last February, the EU announced it would grant Bulgaria 70 million euro to help the country building it. The report notes that the EU also unites Bulgarian and Romanian citizens. Polls have shown more than two thirds of both countries' populations supporte EU membership, due 1 January 2007. (Source: EUOBSERVER) ********************************************************** ANS-Media Centre / A-NewS / EcoPolis / Anaconda Foundation (www.anaconda.ro) Bucharest, Romania, Europe Send your news and press releases at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************************** Visit EcoPolis on the web by using this URL: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/ecopolis ********************************************************** ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/RR.olB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *** sustineti [romania_eu_list] prin 1% din impozitul pe 2005 - detalii la http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/unulasuta.php *** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romania_eu_list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
