site.btaRomanian Interior Minister Comments on Schengen Area Accession of Bulgaria and Romania

Romanian Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu said in Brussels on Wednesday that the EU must have the courage to take the "right and fair decision" to expand the Schengen area with Romania and Bulgaria. He added that the authorities in Bucharest are analyzing the information from the so-called "Schengen Barometer" (analysis of the state of the Schengen area based on key indicators), which shows where further work needs to be done.

The Romanian Minister demonstrated through arguments that there is no incompatibility between the expansion of the Schengen area with Romania and Bulgaria and the discussion on improving the performance of all countries in the Schengen area, respectively strengthening the Schengen area. On the contrary, with Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area, it will consolidate, because both countries are doing well in the fight against illegal migration, said a press release from the Ministry of the Interior of Romania, sent to the editorial office of BTA.

Predoiu has asked the EU Presidency to identify optimal scenarios for further actions on the subject, so as to facilitate the adoption of a positive decision on joining the Schengen area by the end of this year.

After his return from Brussels, in an interview with the Romanian television B1, Predoiu also commented that almost all member states, including the Spanish EU Presidency and the European Commission, noted that Romania and Bulgaria meet all the Schengen criteria and that this should be reflected in a decision.