France "oppose Romania’s Schengen accession"

President Traian Băsescu announced, on Radio Romania Actualităţi, that France and the Netherlands were on diplomatic offense to convince other countries as well that Romania shouldn’t accede to the Schengen Area if it does not resolve its judicial problems.

The head of state mentioned that one country is enough to impede Romania’s Schengen accession.

‘One country is definitely enough to impede the accession. Even if Malta, the smallest EU member state, were to oppose, when the Council discusses the subject, the General Affairs and External Relations Council that is, and not the European Council, it would be enough to impede the accession’, Traian Băsescu stated.

He mentioned that, at present, debates are being held for whether Schengen accession could depend upon other obligations than fulfilling technical requirements.

In 2006 the European Commission signed an agreement with Romania for accepting cooperation and monitoring mechanism to achieve the requirements for an acceptable functioning standard of the Romanian judicial system, especially in the process of anti-corruption, the president said.

Traian Băsescu affirmed he was not optimistic about the report on Romania’s judicial system.

‘Concerning the report, I am no longer optimistic now; I was informed about the first conclusions of those who made the November assessment visit,’ the chief of state said.


Translated by Ciocănel Tudor
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University