Romania and the Schengen Area

Currently, there are 25 European countries that are full members of the Schengen area, under an agreement that will include two more states, Romania and Bulgaria, in March of next year.

To join this area, Romania is undergoing an assessment process which consists of several stages, of which two have already been covered: the submission of accession preparation statements and that of the Schengen questionnaire. The third stage, which is the most important one, has already started with ground visits aimed at assessing the stage of implementation of the Schengen aquis.

The main conclusion of the six assessment reports drawn up so far is that Romania is in an advanced stage with regard to the implementation of this acquis and is almost ready to join the Schengen agreement. The only report recommending a reassessment is the one on air borders.

To meet these objectives, Romania has benefited from European financial aid worth some 600 million Euros. Member states have already voiced satisfaction over the way in which Romania has implemented the recommendations made by the assessment teams.

According to the German Ambassador to Bucharest, Andreas von Mattenheim, Germany supports Romania’s accession, as do all the other European partners, because, quote, “this project would not exist otherwise”.The German official also stated last week that the assessment process was in line with the plan, but that accession, planned for March 2011, was not complete.

Other countries, such as France, have not clearly stated their position. French officials believe, however, that Romania and Bulgaria are not ready to join the agreement on the set date, and support a postponement, until summer 2011. In response to their criticism, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi has stated that France, like other European partners that are having doubts, will eventually be convinced of Romania’s capacity to fully meet all accession criteria.