France ratifies Romania, Bulgaria accession treaty

The French Senate unanimously approved the accession Treaty of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union on Tuesday, October 3. France thus becomes the 22nd EU member state to ratify the document, leaving Germany, Belgium and Denmark as the last countries to do so.

Romanian EU Integration minister Anca Boagiu was present at French Senate debates over the document, at the invitation of its Speaker Christian Ponchelet.

For Romania and Bulgaria to become EU members on January 1, 2007, all 25 member states must ratify the treaty before December 31, 2006.