Romania is the most conspicuous exception. As to the specific requirements embodied in the Union s acquis which are at the core of the negotiations proper, here too the picture is generally positive. Many of the legislative changes which the process requires either have been, or are being introduced. There have also been marked improvements in the capacity of the candidate countries to enforce the legislation that they are so busily adopting. There is still a great deal to be done everywhere.
Administrative structures remain weak and corruption is widespread.
And there are many, many more specific shortcomings that can be and indeed are mentioned. The general tendency is however, as the Commission insists, positive. Those who know the candidate countries will probably not be surprised by the Commission s findings. The distance that most of them have covered in the past ten years is as evident as it is remarkable. What is much more striking about the Commission s Report is what it reveals about the Commission.