RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The President of the European Council visits Bucharest

Schengen accession dominated the talks held in Bucharest by the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

The President of the European Council visits Bucharest
The President of the European Council visits Bucharest

, 28.03.2023, 14:00

Accession to the free travel Schengen Area and to the European single currency zone would perfectly shape Romanias European integration. If entry into the euro zone does not represent a major temptation for the established EU states, though, and it does not seem a major issue for Romania either at the moment, remaining outside Schengen is a major source of frustration for Bucharest. At the end of 2022, the goal of accession seemed perfectly achievable, but Austrias fierce opposition appeared untimely. Romania once again missed Schengen accession, although the European institutions and the other partners in the Union had validated as justified and deserved its place in the Schengen Area.



On a visit to Bucharest on Monday, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said, after discussions with President Klaus Iohannis, that he supported Romanias efforts to join Schengen as soon as possible. Charles Michel said that he was convinced that the European Union would be safer if Romania entered the Schengen area. He added that it was clear to him that Romania had fulfilled all the necessary obligations to join and he hoped that a possible solution would be found and that he would do everything he could to get this decision as soon as possible. Charles Michel went on to say that Schengen accession was a common goal in 2023, and that they would continue to work together. Why? Because they understand the citizens’ disappointment. He also said that he would like to be able to tell the people of Romania that there was this support at the European level for Romania to join the Schengen area as soon as possible.



Accession to Schengen remains a national objective and all the Romanian authorities are working to achieve it, President Iohannis reiterated. However, he drew attention to the fact that, although Romania meets the conditions for accession, it can only come after a complicated negotiation process, under the conditions of Austrias opposition.



Klaus Iohannis has avoided giving any date for accession: “There is no concrete assumption of any date from June or October or anytime in the future. But my ambition and ours is to complete this process successfully for Romania this year and in the best version for Bulgaria too, of course. It suits us best to enter the Schengen area together. We dont have to prove anything. Everyone understood that we are prepared, but we have a situation generated by migration worldwide and at the European level, where, of course, we can intervene as much as possible. We can manage the migration that would come through our area and we do it very well. Thats why we negotiated with the European Commission a pilot project on the border between Romania and Serbia to show how this process can be managed efficiently.”



Once among the most enthusiastic supporters of the European project, some of the Romanians are now disappointed with the Union. The president expressed concern about the growth of Euroscepticism and did not rule out the failure of Schengen accession to be a possible cause. (LS)

Klaus Iohannis, at the EPC summit (Budapest, Hungary)
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment
Donald Trump (Photo: Facebook / Donald J. Trump)
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump

Many political leaders around the world have reacted by congratulating the Republican Donald Trump, who announced his victory in the US presidential...

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump
Foto: pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy

The Romanian Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu and the European Commissioner for Agriculture, the Polish Janusz Wojciechowski, who is on formal...

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy
Today in the News Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament

Romanian Government’s proposal for the position of European Commissioner in the future Community Executive, the Social Democrat Roxana Mînzatu has...

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament
Today in the News Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Japanese Investments in Energy and Technology

Important Japanese companies have expressed their interest, these days, in Bucharest, to invest in Romania, in transport infrastructure, energy,...

Japanese Investments in Energy and Technology
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company