Romania will not join the Schengen area before the elections for the European Parliament, Romanian prime-minister Victor Ponta said at local TV station B1 TV.

“The only chance for Romania to join Schengen is to say: OK, we have fights in Romania, Basescu with Ponta, PDL against USL, but when it comes to Schengen and Romania, we are all united because we deserve it,” said Victor Ponta.

Earlier this month, Romanian President Traian Basescu met European Council President Herman van Rompuy in Brussels, with Romania’s Schengen entry being one of the main topics discussed during the meeting.

The Romanian President said that he has informed the President of the European Council that “Romania intends to become a member of the Schengen area by the end of the year, for various reasons”.

Both Romania and Bulgaria have tried to join the border-free area for several years, but the countries’ joining Schengen has been blocked by various EU member states.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: gov.ro)