Romania receives Schengen area setback

Romania’s hopes of joining the EU’s Schengen passport-free zone were thwarted in September 2012 after several member states said its membership would be premature amid the continued political turmoil in the east European country.

A meeting of EU interior ministers scheduled for the 19 September 2012, during which officials were supposed to vote on Romania’s accession to the border-free zone, was postponed after Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium made it clear they were not ready to support Bucharest’s admission.

ESO: Background information: Commission slams Romania with scathing report http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-slams-romania-with-scathing-report/

ESO: Background information: Romania's political turmoil may hit Schengen bid / Romania illustrates limits of EU power http://www.europeansources.info/record/romanias-political-turmoil-may-hit-schengen-bid-romania-illustrates-limits-of-eu-power/

EurActiv, 18.9.12: Romania's Ponta 'praised' in meeting with Barroso http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/romanian-pm-ponta-barroso-reproa-news-514853

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/12/675: Statement following the meeting between President Barroso and Prime Minister Ponta http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/675&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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