French, German Request To Delay Romania's Schengen Accession Discriminatory – Romanian President

Basescu said the letter is discriminatory against Romanians, since the grounds of its request are unrelated to the Schengen Area's acquis. He admitted that it refers to real issues, such as Romania's justice sector and institutions, but warned that setting a precedent for a breach of a state's accession treaty can enable other such excesses in the future.

France and Germany's Interior Ministers have sent the European Commission a letter requesting the postponement of Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

The letter was addressed to the EC, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council, due to begin on January 1, 2011.

The request mentions Romania's failures to fulfill some of the objectives undertaken as part of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) regarding corruption, justice and the fight against organized crime, although the letter points out that no formal connections should be made between the Schengen Area and the CVM. It also takes note of problems with border management and asylum policy.

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