The European Union is committed to helping with Romania's arranged accession to the 15-member bloc in 2007, if it could satisfy all the three criteria set by the EU

The accession of Romania is part of the inclusive and irreversible process of EU enlargement, said a press release from the 9th meeting of the EU-Romania Association Council which was held here on Monday. The meeting, chaired by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, welcomed the EU statement that it would like to welcome Romania as a EU member in 2007. "In this context, the Association Council noted that the Union (EU) reiterated its determination to assist Romania in its efforts to step up preparation for accession, within the comprehensive framework that has been established by the revised Accession Partnership and the Commission's Roadmap for Romania," said the press release. The EU has put forward proposals for a significant increase in pre-accession assistance to Romania. The Association Council furthermore noted that future rotating presidencies of the EU and the European Commission will be mandated by the European Council to make sure that the pace of accession negotiations on all remaining chapters, including chapters with financial implications, is maintained and matches the efforts of Romania.