BUCHAREST, Romania -- Gay groups Friday praised the Romanian government for passing a bill to decriminalize gay sex acts, as the administration seeks to pass measures to improve laws which will enhance its chances of joining the European Union.

Late Thursday, the government, bypassing parliament, passed an emergency ordinance to decriminalize gay sexual activity. The EU's special envoy to Romania, Baroness Emma Nicholson, recently urged Romania to decriminalize homosexuality, noting in a report that discrimination existed in society.

In May, the government reached what it described as a compromise with Romania's Orthodox Church on the measure.

The influential Orthodox Church has vehemently opposed legalizing homosexuality. But Romania is seeking to join the European Union and needs to have its legislation meet European norms.

The church has stayed silent on the issue recently. It was not clear what concessions the government made to the church in exchange for its agreement to drop its opposition to the new legislation. The Orthodox Church said it accepted the compromise solution.

The Orthodox Church protested last year when the lower house of parliament abolished an article in the Romanian penal code which specified that some gay sexual activity is a crime. The Senate has not yet discussed the bill.

Existing law still punishes any sexual acts with minors, as well as sexual violence or exploitation, regardless of the type of sexual relations, a government statement said.

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