'Romania ready to join the EU as per schedule'

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004, Romania -- a small Southeastern European state -- is set to join the powerful regional organization, the European Union (EU), on Jan. 1, 2007, the Romanian ambassador to Indonesia said in Jakarta.

Romania and its people have made all the preparations for the accession.

Joining the 25-member EU is not an easy task. Every new member must pass through a long and painful process. It has to change hundreds of its laws, regulations and procedures to harmonize with the EU rules and regulations.

"Romania's accession to the European Union is a fundamental objective for the Romanian society. It has full support of all political and social forces," Ambassador Gheorghe Savuica told The Jakarta Post in connection with Romania's National Day celebrations.

Romania, which holds the presidency of the Council of Europe, celebrates its national day on Dec. 1.

The National Assembly -- which was convened in Alba Iulia in the presence of 100,000 Romanians -- voted for the union of Transylvania and Banat provinces with motherland Romania exactly 87 years ago. Thus the single state of Romania -- the Greater Romania -- was formed.

Savuica, a veteran diplomat who speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia, English and Russian, said the schedule for Romania's accession to the EU was established by the European Council in December 2003 and reconfirmed by the same body in June 2004.

"We signed the accession treaty this year after the successful completion of the negotiating process. Only minor things are left," Savuica, who has played a key role in strengthening relations between Romania and Indonesia, said.

The European Commission announced on Oct. 25, 2005 in its Monitoring Report that Romania has made substantial and tangible progress in the key fields of its preparations for accession.

"The report (Monitoring Report) is our countdown to Jan. 1, 2007," he said.

According to the report, Romania has successfully addressed nine areas out of 11. But in two areas -- the fight against corruption and the border agreement -- Romania must make efforts to tackle the issues as prescribed by the accession treaty.

With the adoption of the report on Romania's readiness for its European integration by the European Parliament's Affairs Committee on Nov. 23, Romania's road to the EU was further smoothened.

"We are very serious about our entry into the EU. Our President Traian Basescu made it clear that there is no plan B for accession to the EU. Romania must join the EU on Jan. 1, 2007 not on any other date," Savuica said.

Asked about the implications for Romania's relations with Indonesia, Savuica said it would not affect bilateral ties.

"It is my conviction that my country's integration into the EU will have a positive impact on the bilateral relations between Romania and Indonesia," Savuica said.

Romania, according to Savuica, has already begun the process of revising several bilateral agreements with Indonesia in view of Romania's new status after 2007.

Bilateral trade, which is at present below US$100 million, will also get a big boost after Romania's entry into the EU.

As a gesture of friendship the Romanian people are planning to build an elementary school in the tsunami-hit Aceh province soon.