December 17th … date of next EU summit at which Bulgaria hopes to be given a definite date for signing EU accession treaty. This issue has been source of considerable media speculation for some weeks but now seems to have come to a head. Within past few days, Germany, France, Portugal and Luxembourg have all given top-level ministerial backing to need for a firm signing date early next year.

March 2005 … month in which Kamelia Kassabova, chair of special Committee dealing with Constitutional amendments, expects to see removal of existing restrictions on land purchase by foreigners. Currently, constitution does not allow foreigners to buy land, a provision that is largely academic because those who want to do so simply set up companies, which are permitted to make such purchases. The Committee has now agreed on amendments that will allow land sales to foreigners in two categories: firstly, EU citizens entitled to buy land under EU accession treaty and, secondly, both EU and non-EU citizens entitled to land purchase under an international treaty. Kassabova has that said she wants to have these amendments submitted to Parliament before end of this year so that law can be changed by March 2005.

April - May 2005 … critical time period during which it is expected that Bulgaria will sign EU accession treaty. According to MEP Catherine Guy-Quint, who co-chairs joint parliamentary committee handling Bulgarian - EU integration, most probable date is May 9th.