Romania "has strengthened the eastern border of the EU"

The Foreign Minister, Cristian Diaconescu said in an interview to Radio Romania Actualități that Romania's accession to Schengen is necessary and because our country has strengthened adequately the eastern border of the European Union.

“The fact that we want the confirmation of Schengen, after we have properly reinforced, I could say, the eastern border of the European Union, represents a contribution of Romania to the Schengen agreement and not a favour that they are doing to us”.

“They do not communicate us a decision, because at a time we could get to like to a state or another but it is an obvious, actual recognition of contributions, which saves the states from eastern Europe from expenses or other efforts that, in turn, could be faced with symmetrical risks or asymmetrical, as shall be discussed”, stated Cristian Diaconescu.

The Foreign Minister added that a clear decision with regard to the accession of Romania to the Schengen should be taken as soon as possible.

Cristian Diaconescu added that Romania has the support of all Schengen member states, excepting the Netherlands, in connection with the receipt of the Schengen area, and the country reports confirm the progress in regard to the judiciary system, the rule of law and the irreversibility measures taken in Romania.

Under these conditions, the Foreign Minister claims that a decision on the accession to the Schengen area should be taken as soon as possible because the deferral was decided in a political formula approved by the incorporation of the EU.

“This decision depends on a single state whose assessment varies greatly of the assessments made by France, Germany, Italy, Spain; any other member state of the Schengen Agreement and of the EU.

“It is a contradiction that must be solved by political way, and internal policy arguments, once again, may not be opposed to the decision regarding Bulgaria and Romania”, Cristian Diaconescu said.

The Foreign Minister also stated that from the point of view of the criteria for accession to Schengen, Romania has fulfilled all the requirements.

Translated by Anamaria Petrache
MTTLC, Bucharest University