Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The EU/Romania Association Council in Brussels on Monday evening jointly chaired by Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu and Austria's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Hans Winkler took stock of the state of progress in preparations for the country's accession, just a few weeks before the European Commission's final monitoring report is published on 16 May. Romania has made great progress, the Association Council notes in a joint press release, but further effort is needed as a matter of urgency to settle “outstanding problems” and to reach “tangible results”, especially in the field of corruption (including in the upper spheres). The Association Council states that the main outstanding issues include reform of the civil service and the judiciary, and the functioning of structures for the future management of EU Structural Funds. Although the legislation required is already in place, it must be correctly implemented and applied, the EU warns. The Association Council also stressed the importance of “ratification in good time” by all Member States. It is a known fact that several countries - including France, Germany, Austria and Denmark - have decided to wait for the Commission's monitoring report before concluding the ratification process in their national parliaments, an approach that is not to Bucharest's liking. “I could be happier with a speedier pace of the process of ratification, in France for example” (France having always been one of the most fervent defenders of the Romanian cause in the EU), Mr Ungureanu commented.