Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in Brussels on Thursday discussed with the president of the European Commission Romania’s accession to Schengen with the land borders as well, stressing that Ursula von der Leyen is the „biggest” supporter of the country’s fully joining the free movement area.

„You know very well that she has been one of the biggest supporters of Romania. She is our greatest supporter and will be by Romania’s side for this demarche and she believes Romania is wronged for not having accessed the Schengen Area on land as well. I wouldn’t like to go into the details of the discussion, but we have discussed it,” Ciolacu told a press conference on Thursday at the headquarters of Romania’s Permanent Representation to the EU, at the end of his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen.

Asked if a decision was going to be made this year, the prime minister was convinced that the country would fully join Schengen in the coming period.

„Definitely, but we need maturity and a lot of wisdom. As you have seen, I had a totally different approach from those before me, together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Mr. Catalin Predoiu, and I believe that we have already entered Schengen, both maritime and air, on the right foot, as one can see,” said Marcel Ciolacu.

Ciolacu voiced hope that, following the Austrian elections in September, the ruling coalition would include the party that belongs to the European S&D family, which would, in his opinion, make the Schengen negotiations easier.

The prime minister said that the discussion with the EC head on Schengen did not include Bulgaria.

„If Bulgaria asks me, I will speak,” Ciolacu explained, when asked about the matter.

AGERPRES