European Commission (EC) Vice President Viviane Reding (in picture) has continued to comment on Romania, following the interview with French newspaper Le Monde, where she cast doubt on the country's accession to the Schengen area. “In the current financial crisis we [EC] cannot and should not make any compromise - either in Hungary or in Romania or in any other Member State of the European Union. Trust is the currency of today's economy,” she said, according to EU news service EurActiv.com.

She also said a well functioning independent judiciary is vital for both investor and public confidence. When questioned whether the EU was equipped to deal with Hungary and Romania, the EC Vice President pointed out that she had taken Hungary to court already and continues to monitor the situation in Romania closely.

Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta has poured scorn on Reding's remarks. PM Ponta said, among other things, that she has nothing to do with Romania's Schengen area accession and accused her of making ill informed “weekend” comments, according to reports in the Romanian media.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com