Romania and Bulgaria join EU bringing to 27 members
MIL/Agencies/AP, Jan 2, 2007.
Sofia, 02 January 2007 - Bulgaria and Romania — two ex-communist nations from one of the poorest corners of Europe — joined the European Union, bringing the bloc's membership to 27 nations.
As a military band played the anthems of Bulgaria and the EU, officers hoisted the two flags in front of the St. Sophia church, whose ancient foundations date back to the 6th century as per Associated Press.
"This is a day of historical justice, because Bulgarians have always been Europeans in spirit and identity," Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov told about 2,000 people who attended the elaborate military ceremony.
"Bulgaria will be a stable, predictable and consistent member of the EU," Parvanov told a group of visiting European politicians that included EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, EU parliament president Josep Borrell, and the foreign ministers of Germany, Austria, Greece and Romania.
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