Romania suffers EU open borders blow

Germany and France blocked in December 2010 the extension of the European Union’s Schengen border-free area to include Romania and Bulgaria, snubbing them and their political allies in the former Eastern bloc.

Romania and Bulgaria had been working towards joining Schengen in spring 2011.

Romanian President Traian Basescu reacted by saying it was 'an act of discrimination against Romania' which his country would not tolerate, even if it comes from 'EU's most powerful countries'.

EurActiv Romania later reported that Romania said it would insist that the same mechanism be applied to Croatia's accession process to the EU.

ESO: Background information: Romania could enter Schengen 'if EU shuts one eye' http://www.europeansources.info/record/romania-could-enter-schengen-if-eu-shuts-one-eye/

ESO: Background information: Schengen area http://www.europeansources.info/record/schengen-borders-and-visas/

France24, 21.12.10: Romania, Bulgaria blocked from joining EU's passport-free Schengen zone http://www.france24.com/en/20101221-romania-bulgaria-rejected-joining-schengen-zone-france-germany-european-union-passport-free

Spiegel Online International, 7.1.11: Schengen Membership Delayed for Bulgaria and Romania http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,738314,00.html

Blog: Kosmopolito, 6.1.11: Romania’s clumsy way to Schengen http://www.kosmopolito.org/2011/01/06/romanias-clumsy-way-to-schengen/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Kosmopolito+%28Kosmopolito%29

EUObserver, 7.1.11: Romania waves the white flag in Schengen battle http://euobserver.com/9/31601

EurActiv, 7.1.11: Schengen confusion under Hungarian stewardship http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/schengen-confusion-under-hungarian-stewardship-news-501054

Hungary: EU Presidency: Press Release, 6.1.11: The Hungarian Presidency supports Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen entry http://www.eu2011.hu/news/hungarian-presidency-supports-bulgaria-and-romanias-schengen-entry

EurActiv, 4.1.11: Romania wants Croatia to pay for Schengen setback http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/romania-wants-croatia-pay-its-schengen-setback-news-500934

EUObserver, 4.1.11: Romania threatens Croatia in Schengen dispute http://euobserver.com/9/31589

EUObserver, 22.12.10: France and Germany oppose newcomers to border-free area http://euobserver.com/9/31566

EurActiv, 22.12.10: Romania fumes at Franco-German Schengen blockade http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/france-germany-block-romanias-schengen-bid-news-500856

Gândul, 9.2.11: Anti-corruption checkmate still far off (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/496141-anti-corruption-checkmate-still-far

The New York Times, 5.9.11: The millionaires of Europe’s eastern frontier (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/913961-millionaires-europe-s-eastern-frontier

EUObserver, 9.2.11: Romania killing 'pawns' but not 'queens' in EU border-free bid http://euobserver.com/9/31776

Dnevnik, 22.12.10: Paris and Berlin leave Bucharest and Sofia high and dry (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/439731-paris-and-berlin-leave-bucharest-and-sofia-high-and-dry

BBC News, 21.12.10: Romania and Bulgaria blocked from joining Schengen zone http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12055299

Capital, 8.2.11: High profile crackdowns to please EU (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/494421-high-profile-crackdowns-please-eu

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