Romania and Bulgaria on Monday signed an agreement to join the European Union on January 1st, 2007. That will bring the number of EU states to 27. The agreement has to be approved by Romania and Bulgaria, as well as parliaments of all 25 EU states. The two states will join the 25-nation block provided they carry out reforms. They need to fight corruption, strengthen border controls and improve justice, administration and state industrial support rules. If they do not, the membership could be delayed until 2008.