Wolfowitz gets European backing for World Bank post
Brussels: US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz looks all set to be confirmed as the new head of the World Bank in New York, after winning Europe's backing. Wolfowitz's nomination had galvanized the European countries after his key role in the Iraq war.

However, the European leaders said they expected approval of his nomination. The US traditionally nominates the head of the World Bank, while Europe controls the top job at the International Monetary Fund.
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Romania and Bulgaria set to join EU in 2007
Brussels: The European Union's foreign affairs panel has endorsed the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union in January 2007, on condition that they implement essential political and economic reforms.

The EU foreign ministers and their Bulgarian and Romanian counterparts are to sign the access on treaties on April 25, giving their national parliaments twenty months to ratify the entry of two newcomers that will raise the EU's membership to 27.

In a major departure from previous expansions, the EU is not giving Romania and Bulgaria an absolute guarantee they will join in 2007.

To join in 2007, Bulgaria must improve its justice and law enforcement systems and step up the fight against corruption and organized crime.

Romania which the EU declared to be a market economy only last June, must boost justice and law enforcement, upgrade environmental protection, accelerate antitrust rules and shed its history of state aid, epitomized by an oversized steel sector.
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