Three weeks before the European Parliament decides on Romanian EU membership for 2007, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu sent delegates across the continent to lobby for a 'yes' vote and at home began implementing the accession criteria demanded by Brussels.

"We noticed some European parliamentarians were preoccupied over Romanian entry so we mobilised to calm their nerves," Tariceanu told reporters on a return from two days in Brussels.

The vote is scheduled for April 13 and the last minute lobbying has been heightened by opposition to Romania's immediate accession in Brussels circles.

German eurodeputy Markus Ferber of Bavaria's Christian Democrats claimed a green light from the European Parliament would be premature as Romania has yet to implement the prerequisites, and said he would be prepared to rally a majority to delay the proposed entry date of January 2007.

Should Romania get the green light April 13 from the parliament, it would sign up for membership on April 25.

"Some people say Bucharest should await European Commission evaluation until the end of 2005 before signing the treaty, but these opinions shouldn't influence the process," said Tariceanu.

EU commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn, who warned Romania and fellow-candidate Bulgaria on March 18 that their hopes of joining the bloc in 2007 could be delayed if they do not fulfil commitments, told Tariceanu no new conditions would be imposed but urged Bucharest to speed up the necessary reforms.

To this end the Romanian parliament began debating a national anti-corruption strategy on Saturday in the presence of European Commission representative Jonathan Scheele and will work flat out in the weeks to come.

The main problems facing Romania are how to better use EU funds, restructure party funding, crack down on tax evasion, re-schedule company debts and create conditions suitable for foreign investment.

Romania was also warned in the last EU evaluation to make its justice system more resistant to corruption. Legislation designed to make lawyers and judges more independent is set to be adopted on Wednesday.

A failure to meet EU criteria leaves open a clause to delay Romanian accession until 2008.