Germany will ratify Bulgaria and Romania's EU Accession treaty by the end of 2006, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

Talking at a news conference for foreign reporters in Berlin, Minister Steinmeier declined to specify a concrete date.

The German government is aware of the commitments, entered into during the negotiations for the expansion of the European Union and will launch the ratification procedure in time to conclude it by the end of the year, he added.

The minister noted that the two countries have launched a real offensive with the numerous visits of their officials to Germany, but it is still early to say whether January 1, 2007 is a feasible target date for EU accession.

Sofia is hoping that all member states will ratify its EU accession treaty before the European Commission monitoring report in the spring of 2006, fearing a delay in its accession due to a delay in the ratifications.

If the notification of the ratification in all member states is not completed by 31 December 2006, the accession treaty will not enter into force and it will have to be renegotiated.

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