The procedure for the ratification of Bulgaria and Romania's EU accession treaty in the Dutch Senate ended yesterday.

A Council of Ministers official press release said that 70 senators voted in favour of the ratification and only four voted against.

Due to the majority, president of the senate Timmerman-Buck suggested the ratification be approved at the same session instead of one week later. As a result the entire parliamentary procedure was completed on June 13.

Under the Dutch constitution, Queen Beatrix has to sign the treaty for the ratification to be completed.

Dutch foreign minister Bernard Bot gave his full support for the ratification of the agrement during the parliamentary debates. Bot said he was certain the Bulgarian Cabinet would manage completing in term all reforms needed for the country's accession in January 2007.

During a telephone conversation with Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, Bot called for the fast completion of reforms so that all critical issues are dealt with before the final monitoring report of the European Commission.