Romanian opposition "related to Schengen veto"

Behind Romania's opposition to Serbia bid to become EU candidate is its inability to join the EU Schengen zone passport-free area, a Romanian official suggests. Romania was against making a positive decision on Serbia's bid when EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday, so the ministers made a recommendation and sent it to the EU Council, which will meet on Thursday and Friday. Romanian opposition "related to Schengen veto" Romania's unwillingness to join other EU countries in supporting Serbia's bid was explained with its concern over the position of the Vlach ethnic minority in Serbia. But Romanian MEP and Vice Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Development Corina Cretu said in a statement on Wednesday that her country's inclination to attach conditions to the consensus on Serbia's EU candidate status was "a gratuitous act devoid of European spirit". Bucharest should not use the Vlachs in Serbia to indirectly deliver a blow to the Netherlands, she was also quoted as saying. That would not change the Netherlands' veto against Romania's entry into the European Union's Schengen area, nor would do any good to the Vlachs in Serbia, Cretu was quoted as saying, and adding that, "moreover, it would not improve the position of Romania in the EU." "It is only natural that Romania would like Romanians outside its borders to enjoy best possible standards in relation to freedoms, rights and preservation of national identity. But, that would not be resolved by moves bordering on blackmail," she said in the statement carried by the and Romanian national news agency Agerpres. The EP official underlined that remaining objections to Serbia could be resolved during the stabilization and association process (SAP). "We need not take extreme steps, while at the same time passively accepting the EU decisions that will have an adverse effect on our economic and social development in the long run, such as the financial stability treaty," Cretu said. She also pointed out that Bucharest "does not take similar stands on a case in which it is directly targeted by the actions of Budapest, that has just set up an extremist party sponsored by Laszlo Tokes", in the same way that it does nothing to change the situation of the Romanians living in the central counties of Harghita and Covasna, where the ethnic Hungarians form a majority, where she says the Romanians are discriminated against on ethnic grounds, as the Hungarian minority has been a long-time ruling partner. "We have a foreign policy that proves to not be in keeping with Romania's status. We must show responsibility, we must be open to dialogue and cooperation and not act instinctively and incoherently, if we want to be recognized as the EU seventh-biggest power," Cretu was quoted as saying by Agerpres news agency. Tanjug Agerpres

Romanian opposition "related to Schengen veto"

Romania's unwillingness to join other EU countries in supporting Serbia's bid was explained with its concern over the position of the Vlach ethnic minority in Serbia.

But Romanian MEP and Vice Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Development Corina Cretu said in a statement on Wednesday that her country's inclination to attach conditions to the consensus on Serbia's EU candidate status was "a gratuitous act devoid of European spirit".

Bucharest should not use the Vlachs in Serbia to indirectly deliver a blow to the Netherlands, she was also quoted as saying.

That would not change the Netherlands' veto against Romania's entry into the European Union's Schengen area, nor would do any good to the Vlachs in Serbia, Cretu was quoted as saying, and adding that, "moreover, it would not improve the position of Romania in the EU."

"It is only natural that Romania would like Romanians outside its borders to enjoy best possible standards in relation to freedoms, rights and preservation of national identity. But, that would not be resolved by moves bordering on blackmail," she said in the statement carried by the and Romanian national news agency Agerpres.

The EP official underlined that remaining objections to Serbia could be resolved during the stabilization and association process (SAP).

"We need not take extreme steps, while at the same time passively accepting the EU decisions that will have an adverse effect on our economic and social development in the long run, such as the financial stability treaty," Cretu said.

She also pointed out that Bucharest "does not take similar stands on a case in which it is directly targeted by the actions of Budapest, that has just set up an extremist party sponsored by Laszlo Tokes", in the same way that it does nothing to change the situation of the Romanians living in the central counties of Harghita and Covasna, where the ethnic Hungarians form a majority, where she says the Romanians are discriminated against on ethnic grounds, as the Hungarian minority has been a long-time ruling partner.

"We have a foreign policy that proves to not be in keeping with Romania's status. We must show responsibility, we must be open to dialogue and cooperation and not act instinctively and incoherently, if we want to be recognized as the EU seventh-biggest power," Cretu was quoted as saying by Agerpres news agency.