Romania Demands Decision on Schengen Accession during Hungarian Presidency

Romania wants to enter the Schengen Agreement in 2011 and expects the European Council to come out with a decision on that during the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, in the first half of 2011.

This was stated by the country's Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi, as cited by the Agerpress agency.

"We are waiting for newest technical assessment of our Bulgarian neighbors in March and we would like to receive a constructive decision on behalf of the European Cuncil by the end of the Hungarian Presidency," Baconschi said during a press conference after he met with Finland's Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors, who is currently on a visit to Romania.

The Finnish official pointed out that the Helsinki Government backs up Romania and Bulgaria's joining the Schengen Space but the decision on it must be taken having in view all the relevant elements.

On Fabruary 7-8, Minister Thors will also visit Sofia, where she will confer with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nickolay Mladenov.

Bulgaria and Romania hoped to join the EU's border-free zone in March, but Germany and France have already urged Brussels to delay their bid due to concerns about its ability to combat corruption and crime. Finland, Austria, The Netherlands and – most recently – Norway have also spoken reluctantly on the two states' potential soon Schengen entry.

Hungary may decide to put this issue on the agenda of the Council of Interior Ministers of the EU, due on February 24, but the decision will most probably be negative.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!