President Iohannis: Romania belongs in Schengen Area, controversies are merely political

President Klaus Iohannis says Romania belongs in the Schengen Area, as it meets the criteria of this free movement space and any controversies about it are merely political.

Foto: (c) ALEX MICSIK / AGERPRES FOTO

'Romania becoming completely European is a central goal of my term; this means continuing the European integration process by joining the Schengen area and adopting the Euro currency. Romania belongs in the Schengen Area as a full member with equal rights. We fully meet the criteria for joining the Schengen Area; any misunderstandings about it are merely on political grounds. The big deficit affecting the EU member states does not reside in their national budgets, but rather in the lack of trust among partners, resulting in discrimination. I think we can overcome this moment. Our European partners' duty is to be fair in their evaluation and in implementing rules; we believe in rules that are observed and that do not change based on temporary interests,' the President told ambassadors accredited to Romania at the traditional annual meeting with the diplomatic corps on Thursday at the Cotroceni Palace, the official residence of the presidency.

Iohannis underscored that Romania expects to join the Schengen Area, as European institutions assured. He added that Romania was prepared to contribute to perfecting the Schengen system, in the spirit of much-needed unity and solidarity.

'On one hand, the freedom of movement should not be affected; on the other hand, more strict control must be guaranteed at the outer borders of the EU,' the President added.

'The successive positive conclusions of the CVM [Cooperation and Verification Mechanism] reports are an acknowledgment of the efforts for internal consolidation on all levels ?...