Despite the “gut feeling” that the Foreign Minister, Andrei Marga recently had about Romania joining the Schengen area partially by air and sea space this fall, Romania and Bulgaria may not be ready for it this year, even with the support of France and Germany.

"I think that opening the borders to Romania and Bulgaria is impossible at this time," said German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich to Rheinische-Post, quoted by Bloomberg.

Germany and France previously proposed a two step accession plan for the two countries, which would first open the air and sea borders, while delaying the decision on terrestrial frontiers.

Romania and Bulgaria were originally to be included in the Schengen area in 2011, but opposition from several EU states held up the process. Although the rest of the EU has since approved Romania and Bulgaria’s application, The Netherlands has maintained resistance to the proposal.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com