Presidents of EU Parliament and Commission Show Their Support for Romania's Accession to Schengen Area

Voices supporting the admission of Romania into the Schengen Area have been raised immediately after the country took the rotating EU presidency, reported schengenvisainfo.com

The European Parliament President Antonio Tajani called on the EU member statesblocking Romania's accession into the Schengen to "rethink their stance". President Tajani insisted that Romania has met the criteria to join the Schengen, in a round of speeches on the day Romania took over the EU presidency.

"I appeal to member states that block this membership and I invite them to change their position. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area will be beneficial for the security of all European countries. And I hope it will be concluded under your presidency," President Tajani said.

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker who met the Romanian President at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, also showed his support for the accession of Romania into the Schengen Zone.

Whereas President Iohannis complained that Romania was not accepted into the Schengen Area, despite of having met all of the conditions set by the Schengen agreement.

"Being part of the Schengen area is a desideratum that we have from the very beginning and we have worked in that direction," President Iohannis said during a joint press conference with President Juncker.

The latter also met the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, to whom he showed his wish for Romania to finally become a Schengen member country.

"If I could voice a wish, it would be that during the mandate of this Commission, Romania should join the Schengen Area. I see no reasons for which certain governments obstinately refuse this. We are keeping in...