As long as Bulgaria continues its "unbroken good work," there is completely no risk of a delay in the country's 2007 EU accession, European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said on Friday in Sofia.

"As long as the unbroken good work is continuing I am convinced that Bulgaria will be able to complete its final preparations for accession in 2007," Kroes told a press conference.

"If they (the government) are continuing like they have performed till now, my answer is completely no risk" for postponement of Bulgaria's accession, she added.

The EU entry of Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania is subject to a special "safeguard clause" that can delay accession by a year if they fail to implement changes to bring them in line with European standards.

On Thursday, Kroes sent a new warning to Romania over its failure to enforce antitrust legislature.

"It is my responsibility and duty to make it very clear, in no uncertain terms, that should Romania's performance not improve, the commission would have no other option than to propose postponement," she said in a speech released in Brussels.

The only negative point that Kroes hinted at in Sofia was "a fear that can be felt when we are talking about corruption."

She added that it was a common problem in "a couple of countries."

"Businesses should know that only with fair competition we can win the game," she said.

On joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania will become its poorest members, with the average income of their citizens barely approaching 30 percent of the European average.