European Union leaders Friday reaffirmed a goal for Bulgaria and Romania to join the bloc as a pair in 2007, despite lagging progress by Bucharest towards exacting EU membership standards.

In summit conclusions, the leaders welcomed "the very substantial progress made by Bulgaria and Romania in the accession negotiations over the past months".

The leaders reiterated "the Union's common objective to welcome the two countries as members of the Union in January 2007, if they are ready".

Ten mostly ex-communist states joined the EU on May 1, but Bulgaria and Romania were deemed not ready.

Bulgaria this week closed its EU accession negotiations, but Romania has still to complete some areas of its entry dossier, notably in energy and services. It is aiming to close the chapters by the end of this year.

To prevent major slippages by Bulgaria between now and 2007, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen has negotiated a "safeguard clause" that could set back its membership to 2008.

A similar clause is expected to be agreed for Romania.