Jean Asselborn: EU member states 100pct fulfilling technical criteria should be allowed in the Schengen Area

Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Wednesday said all the European Union member states that are 100 per cent fulfilling the technical criteria for joining the border-free Schengen Area should be allowed to do so, provided there is also political will.

Photo credit: (c) Radu TUTA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

He said that as far as Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area are concerned, there is a small blockage and a key should be found to unblock the situation.

"There has been a small blockage ever since four years ago, when you completed all the technical preparations. In my opinion, the key to unblock the situation has to be found. What I can do in my capacity as president of the European Council is try and talk the matter with Germany and France," Asselborn told a joint press conference with Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

He added that additional efforts are needed to present to Germany, France and the Netherlands arguments in favour of Romania's accession to the Schengen Area. He said that if such discussions echoed with Germany, October would be a good month to find the key to the problem.

"I believe that all the European Union member states that have hundred per cent prepared the ground in technical terms and have the political will should be allowed to join the Schengen Area, and that is what we will be doing," said Asselborn.

In his turn, Romania's Foreign Minister Aurescu said Romania is counting on the Luxembourgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union for progress with its accession to the Schengen Area. AGERPRES