Romania’s Progress Under CVM Should Not Affect Country’s Schengen Accession – Minister

„The seven evaluation reports and the last one in particular show Romania complied with the Schengen aquis regarding border security,” said Igas.

The minister highlighted that the country’s progress under the CVM should not be connected to its accession to the Schengen Area. He said the efforts made by Romania to fight tax evasion and eliminate border corruption must be regarded as a good thing.

Malmstrom, who is on an official visit to Romania, said Thursday that talks with Igas focused on Romania’s Schengen accession and the fight against organized crime. She highlighted the technical evaluation shows Romania met all requirements to join Schengen.

Talks also touched on issues concerning asylum and migration, considering the EU is negotiating a frame-agreement to implement a European asylum system, according to Malmstrom.

The EU commissioner stressed that drug dealing, terrorism or human trafficking represent a challenge for Europe, as well as for Romania, adding she wanted to see the way in which Romanian authorities deal with the problem. She said the operations carried out by prosecutors at the country’s border crossing points prove Romania fights against corruption.

Romania’s National Anticorruption Department has detained a total 97 border police and customs workers at border crossing points in western Romania suspected of corruption and smuggling. The Bucharest court of appeals has so far ruled in favor of the preventive arrest of 86 suspects and has yet to rule on arrest warrants for the rest.

On Wednesday, prosecutors indicted National Customs Authority head Radu Traian Marginean on charges of corruption.