Merkel Asks Romania to Up Efforts for Schengen Bid

12 Oct 2010 / 06:07

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that Romania has to increase its efforts in order to meet the standards for the European borderless Schengen zone.

Marian Chiriac
“Germany will look closely at Romania's bid to join the Schengen area and will give a fair and just assessment based on the European Commission’s criteria,” Chancellor Merkel said during a press conference, following a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu.

Romania and neighboring Bulgaria are seeking to join the so-called Schengen zone of 25 European countries where people can freely cross the borders between the members in the zone. The progress of both countries will be assessed in November by the European Commission.

Merkel added that Romania's bid to join the area would depend on its ability to ensure the security of the EU's outer border and is not linked with other political issues, such as its position on France's expulsions of Romanian Roma people.

“Romania must show visa processing is free from corruption. The Roma issue has nothing to do with that,” she said.

France has sent about 8,000 Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria this year, dismantling illegal camps where they were living on the outskirts of cities, and the actions have prompted much controversy and calls for greater inclusion of Roma people.

Analysts say it is likely that Romania will be accepted into the Schengen zone next year. “As Romania has already met all technical requirements, there is no reasonal argument against from this perspective,” explained political analyst Cristian Fierbinteanu.

“But, as the process also has a political component, criticism might be voiced at any time due to Romania's problems related to justice reforms or the integration of Roma people,” he continued.

Chancelor Angela Merkel, who is on a one day visit to Romania following a stop in Bulgaria on Monday, also met Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc and is to visit the Babes-Bolyai University in the northwestern city of Cluj, where she will be awarded an honorary degree.

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