Romanian authorities pursue steps towards Schengen accession
Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu says the Romanian authorities will continue their efforts to join the Schengen Area, noting that he has received messages of support from 15 member states, Radio România Actualități reports.
Romania must develop the dialogue it has started with Austria, the head of diplomacy stressed, adding that his country has made all possible moves towards a constructive dialogue. "We also made it very clear that Romania's position is one of support for measures to strengthen the management of the European Union's external borders, to combat illegal migration, to make the European Union's external borders more secure, even if Romania does not accept any artificial connection between this issue, especially regarding illegal migration from Austria, and the enlargement of the Schengen area with Romania and Bulgaria," Bogdan Aurescu declared.
Austria and the Netherlands rejected the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen last December, both countries opposing Bulgaria's accession, while only Austria was against Romania.
