§ Mr. DavidTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with Bulgaria's EU accession negotiations. [17838]
§ Peter HainBulgaria has opened 23, and closed 12, of the 31 chapters of the EU acquis under negotiation. The European Commission judged, in its progress report published on November 13, that Bulgaria had made some good progress on alignment with the acquis in key areas. But work was still needed on administrative and judicial reform, and in combating corruption. The UK will continue to provide advice and support to Bulgaria in meeting the accession criteria in these and other areas.