Brussels, 20/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European People's Party (EPP) Political Bureau has given the Democratic Party of Romania (PD) observer status. The PD had presented its application in June this year after withdrawing its membership from the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the Socialist International (SI). “I hope the Democratic Party will work closely with the longstanding EPP Romania partners (PPCD and RMDSZ) in order to prepare this country to join the EU in 2007”, Wilfried Martens, EPP President, states in a press release. In the aim of enhancing cooperation with its Romanian partners, the EPP working group on enlargement will meet in November in Bucharest.
The press release specifies that the Political Bureau decided not to accept the application for observer status made by the Conservative Party (PC) of Romania,, as it considered the EPP criteria had not been met.