EU leaders decided to further delay a decision about Romania's entry into the Schengen area until September this year, according to AFP. The Netherlands continued to oppose Romania joining the passport free zone, but the EU will help Romania and Bulgaria identify the measures which should be taken to allow Schengen entry in the fall.

Romania and Bulgaria were expecting a No to their entry into the passport free zone during the ongoing EU summit, as The Netherlands continues to say they have not made enough progress in the fight against corruption and borders security.

Romanian president Traian Basescu accused The Netherlands of “abuse” over opposition to Romania’s inclusion in the Schengen area. Speaking at a conference marking five years in the EU, Basescu said Romania should already be in the visa free, open border area and that his country had met all the conditions for membership. He warned about the precedent set, saying “This kind of attitude makes us question whether other countries could do the same in the future… There is a future risk of internal abuses in the European Union.”

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.

editor@romania-insider.com