EC President Barroso’s statement about Schengen enlargement

Talks about Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area are under way but considering the present situation in EU the two countries might not join on January 1, 2014, declared the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday for the private French TV station LCI.

“Romania and Bulgaria will not enter the Schengen area on January 1, 2014. It is an incredible amalgamation between Schengen, immigration, Lampedusa, posted workers. It is an amalgamation which has to be denounced, because otherwise we have a spurt of extremist movements that causes Europe to do dangerous things. Romania and Bulgaria will not enter Schengen as there are countries that oppose”, said Barroso.

The subject of Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen is on the agenda of the JAI Council since December. European sources said the agenda might change at the last minute if it cannot reach unanimity. According to these sources there are now at least three countries that oppose the accession of the two countries to Schengen.

The Embassy of Holland to Bucharest pointed out on October 8 that the Hague expected the the cooperation and verification mechanism (CVM) 2014 report to make a decision about Romania’s accession to Schengen. It is important for Romania to continue to take irreversible long lasting measures for the introduction and implementation of reforms in justice and the fight against corruption as established between Romania and EU.

The report on the CVM for Romania will be published at the beginning of 2014, the spokesperson for EC Mark Gray announced on October 8. Initially EC had announced that the report would be published in December 2013.

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