“W. Balkans’ EU accession will mark end of conflicts"

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has stated that “Western Balkan countries’ EU accession would put an end to a history of constant conflicts”. He added that the EU’s “essence has been stable peace in Europe since the very beginning”. “W. Balkans’ EU accession will mark end of conflicts" Van Rompuy is on an official visit to Romania where he discussed the country’s entry in Schengen zone and main European topics with Romania’s President Traian Basescu. He also had a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and addressed the Romanian parliament. The European Council president said that Romania had changed a lot in the previous five years since it joined the EU. He added that Romania actively participated in the EU, pointing out signing of the EU Financial Discipline Pact which is yet to be adopted by the Romanian parliament. He stressed that anti-crisis measures in the EU member states were already giving results and that it was now important to respect the decisions that had been made and to be united and show solidarity. Van Rompuy pointed out that the European leaders had assessed several times at meetings in Brussels that Romania had fulfilled all the criteria necessary to join the Schengen zone without limitations, adding that the issue would once again be discussed in September. He positively assessed Romania’s initiatives regarding border control and police cooperation, which increased trust as far as the Schengen zone entry was concerned. Basescu stressed that the Romanian parliament would adopt the Fiscal Pact in the next two weeks. Van Rompuy and the Romanian officials agreed that overcoming the crisis “will open a perspective of new Europe” and that “Europe has since the beginning been a dream that should be continued”. Herman Van Rompuy (Tanjug, file) Beta

“W. Balkans’ EU accession will mark end of conflicts"

Van Rompuy is on an official visit to Romania where he discussed the country’s entry in Schengen zone and main European topics with Romania’s President Traian Basescu.

He also had a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and addressed the Romanian parliament.

The European Council president said that Romania had changed a lot in the previous five years since it joined the EU. He added that Romania actively participated in the EU, pointing out signing of the EU Financial Discipline Pact which is yet to be adopted by the Romanian parliament.

He stressed that anti-crisis measures in the EU member states were already giving results and that it was now important to respect the decisions that had been made and to be united and show solidarity.

Van Rompuy pointed out that the European leaders had assessed several times at meetings in Brussels that Romania had fulfilled all the criteria necessary to join the Schengen zone without limitations, adding that the issue would once again be discussed in September.

He positively assessed Romania’s initiatives regarding border control and police cooperation, which increased trust as far as the Schengen zone entry was concerned.

Basescu stressed that the Romanian parliament would adopt the Fiscal Pact in the next two weeks.

Van Rompuy and the Romanian officials agreed that overcoming the crisis “will open a perspective of new Europe” and that “Europe has since the beginning been a dream that should be continued”.