Slovakian Parliament decided on 2005 June 20 to approve the Balkan countries Bulgaria and Romania joining the EU. Slovakia is the first country among the EU25 to approve this agreement. The enlargement agreement must be ratified in all EU25 countries. The ratification process should be finished by the end of 2006 in order for Bulgaria and Romania, who already have seats allocated in the European Parliament and are taking part in EU meetings as observers, to be able to officially join in January 2007.

Also Tuesday, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iakovou voiced support for Romania's EU entry. He did so during a meeting in Bucharest with President Traian Basescu.