Prime Minister Nicolae Cuke announced on Friday that Romania is looking for a solution together with the European institutions to continue steps towards joining the Schengen area. He wanted to clarify that they are not looking for the culprits inside and turned to the unit.

Nicolae Chuquet and Lucian BodePhoto: Government of Romania

“I continue to call for everything that means a dignified and unified approach to the steps that we are going to take, at this point we say that all the measures have been taken, all the steps have been taken so that we can fulfill this wish, we are not looking for the guilty inside the country, because we are not doing anything except to give satisfaction to those who opposed our entry,” said the prime minister.

Nicolae Cuke also said that he discussed with the President of Romania and the PSD President and Romania will continue the steps to join the Schengen area.

“At the moment, we are discussing with the European institutions and the Czech Presidency to be able to determine what immediate decisions can be taken. We are also discussing with the Swedish side, as it is about to take over the presidency from the Czech Republic, and we will also analyze the possibility of returning the accession decision to the Council’s agenda (…) Given that Austria maintains its political decision not to accept the accession of Romania, I do not I consider it expedient to set a deadline for the report,” the Prime Minister explained.

And Interior Minister Lucian Bode said on Friday that a decision on Romania’s accession to the Schengen area could be taken at the JAI Council, which is due to take place in March. Bode said that there is no question of disconnection from Bulgaria yet.

Bode avoided a decisive answer on this topic: “With the new procedure for assessing the candidate state, everything is relatively easier. So far, no state has been evaluated under the new procedure. At the Council that will take place next week, it will be seen for sure, and this topic is not on the agenda, it is the topic of migration, but I am sure that this topic will also be discussed. For now, we remain in this scenario with the possibility of putting it on the agenda at the JAI Council in March or at any other extraordinary Council.”