Romania’s President Pushes for Spring 2011 Schengen Accession

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday called on the Government to “fight until the end” so the country will join the Schengen Area in April-May 2011, but stressed that Romania can not denounce the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism or thwart Croatia’s EU accession.

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The president also said he does not advise Romanian lawmakers to reject Germany's request to have its number of MEPs increased.

Basescu said earlier Wednesday he takes political responsibility for the delay of the country's accession to the border-free Schengen Area. He stressed that, unfortunately, the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is considered a Schengen accession condition.

The president said it is "obvious" that "our big problems" concern the justice system and everybody must take responsibility.

Romania's Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi said recently that, if the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is used in other fields and becomes a hindrance, Romania can unilaterally denounce it and can set conditions for Croatia's accession to the European Union.

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