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PM Ponta: Romania's Schengen entry this December, no longer our main topic of discussion at EU level
Romania's accession to the Schengen Area will be no longer our main topic of discussion at EU level and I believe we should focus on other concerns, such as the situation of the Roma and the migration of the Romanian workforce once labour restrictions are lifted, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Thursday in Brussels, where he attended the Summit of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
When asked about the new strategy for Romania joining Europe's open border area that was tackled by Romanian Interior Minister Radu Stroe, Ponta said that from his point of view, 'Romania should do its homework, but (the Schengen accession) will be no longer our main topic of discussion at EU level.' He also said that he does not set Romania's entry to Schengen in Dec. as an objective. 'Because I do not want to, we set this goal once again, somebody may hold elections, our bid will be unsuccessful once again and we shall be once again upset at home. Both Romania and Bulgaria will join Schengen sooner or later,' Victor Ponta told a news conference.
'I believe we should focus on the other reproaches and concerns. The situation of the Roma people, for example, we should make it clear that there will not be 20 million Romanians seeking jobs in Germany or Great Britain and we should explain, particularly on this topic we should change our strategy, we should talk about the positive role of the Romanian citizens in various societies and economies. About Romanians' contribution to Germany's economy, as well as to Great Britain, because if we get stuck on this topic, that the Romanians take other people's jobs, we shall never be able to solve this problem,' said Ponta.
The head of the Bucharest Cabinet said that the entry to Schengen does not affect the migration of citizens, but the circulation of goods, between Romania and the other EU member states. 'I think that the foreign businessmen, carrying out businesses in Romania, developing investments in this period, would be happy to hear that Romania moved its border on the Prut river, as Romania's President says,' Ponta pointed out.