Juncker backs Romania’s Schengen accession hopes

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker voiced on Friday, January 11, his hope that Romania would become a member of the Schengen Area by the end of this Commission's mandate. “I see no reasons for which certain governments obstinately refuse this,” he stated, according to local Agerpres. “We are keeping in touch with the most refractory and we are trying to convince them to say 'yes' for Romania's accession to the Schengen Area. (...) I would like to end my mandate making Romania a member of the Schengen Area and putting an end to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism,” he added. He also reminded that in 2014 he committed before the European Parliament to put an end to the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and that he stays faithful to this promise, "on condition that all efforts be made in Romania and in Europe for things to be carried out in good circumstances." Several months ago, the European Commission issued a rather negative CVM report on Romania, showing that the country reversed its progress in fighting corruption and justice reform, and coming up with new recommendations to be met before the CVM is removed. European Parliament backs report calling for Romania, Bulgaria accession to Schengen Juncker calls for consensus in Romania, says internal conflicts shouldn’t be exported to Europe editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Gov.ro)