EU Body Backs Jan. 1 Entry for 2 Balkan States
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Romania and Bulgaria gained support to join the European Union on Jan. 1. Formal approval is expected next month.
The EU administrative body’s backing was expected to be the last such move for some time, leaving Turkey, Croatia and other hopefuls on the sidelines.
It urged the bloc to make aid to Bulgaria and Romania conditional on continued progress in cracking down on corruption and organized crime, improving justice and ensuring better food and aviation safety.
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