BRUSSELS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission (EC) gave the green light for Bulgaria and Romania to join the European Union (EU) in January of 2007, rather than a year later, EC President Jose Manuel Barroso announced on Tuesday in Strasbourg of France.

    The 26th and 27th members of the European club will be allowed to join up on Jan. 1, 2007, Barroso announced at an EU parliamentary plenary session in Strasbourg.

    "Bulgaria and Romania have carried out an extraordinary reform process and they have gone through a remarkable transformation," read a statement from the EU's executive arm.

    Both Bulgaria and Romania will have to make an initial report to the Commission on the benchmarks that are to be fulfilled by March 31, 2007. Enditem