BRUSSELS, Oct. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Tuesday urged Bulgaria and Romania to root out corruption and speed up reforms in order to join the 25-nation bloc on schedule in 2007.

    The Commissioner told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, that these two countries should be able to meet the EU requirements before a decision next year on whether or not to let them join on schedule.

    However, if they fall short on reform, their entry into the EU could be delayed until January 2008, he warned.

    Rehn made his comments hours before the EU executive European Commission's official presentation of two highly critical annual progress reports on Sofia's and Bucharest's preparations for EU accession.

    Romania and Bulgaria signed their accession treaties on 25 April this year, but these treaties for the first time contain a clause with the option to delay the 2007 entry date until 2008 if entry preparations are insufficient.

    The commissioner said Brussels would "not hesitate" to make use of the option in its recommendation on the entry date to EU member states, due in April or May 2006.

    "The possibility of being ready in 2007 is not lost, but makingit will require a lot of work", Rehn said, referring to both countries.

    The Commissioner said "serious concerns" existed in areas accounting for around ten percent of EU legislation, where "unless immediate action is taken the countries will not be ready for accession".

    One area of Brussels' concern is administrative capacity, where the commissioner said "overall reform of administrative structures" needs to be stepped up in order for both EU hopefuls to be able to absorb EU funds.

    On top of this, Rehn said "urgent efforts" were necessary to tackle corruption, "particularly at a high level".

    The Commissioner also highlighted shortcomings in the veterinary field, that may "put at risk food safety" in the EU. Enditem