Romania's PM Emil Boc expects country to join Schengen area in 2012

Romania's Government hopes the country will join the Schengen area next year, depending on European-level decisions, according to Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, who attended the Annual Reunion of the Romanian Diplomacy. “We expect that, depending on the European – level decisions in September, Romania's full entry to the Schengen area to be ensured. The fact that Romania has fulfilled the technical conditions to join the Schengen area is recognized,” Boc said. He then asked Romania's diplomats abroad to counterbalance the drawbacks, either personal or political coming from European officials who have a say in Romanian joining the free movement European zone. Romanian should have already joined the Schengen area, based on the previous timeline, but several European countries have opposed it, saying the country still needs to fulfill some criteria. On the other hand, Romanian politicians have said the international opposition against Romania and neighbor Bulgaria have been based only on political reasons, and that Romania is prepared to safely enter the Schengen area. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Romanian Government)