This Bill will enable the UK to ratify Romania and Bulgaria’s accession treaty.

After completing negotiations in December 2004 the two became accession candidates in 1995.

Having signed their treaties of accession on April 25 2005 they will join the EU on January 2007 pending ratification by the current member states.

Bulgaria and Romania follow in the footsteps of the ten new members welcomed in May 2004.

The next big issue for EU enlargement will be the candidate negotiations of Turkey and Croatia.

House of Commons

First reading: October 11 2005 (HC Bill 51)

Second reading: November 1 2005

Committee and third reading: November 24 2005

House of Lords

First reading: November 28 2005 (HL Bill 46)

Second reading: December 20 2005

Committee: January 10 2006

Report stage: January 24 2006

Third reading: February 7 2006


Royal Assent: February 16 2006