So, I respect and admire the Bulgarian authorities and the Bulgarian people for your hard work in preparing to join the EU. BIS Review 14/2006  1  unemployment”. Moreover, it states that continuing the current pace of reform will make the economy robust to competitive pressure and market forces within the EU.
I agree with the Commission that economic progress in Bulgaria has been significant. Of course this has not been automatic. It is the result of difficult choices taken and a lot of hard work. So, let me mention three aspects of this preparatory process that seem to me particularly important.