Dutch Ambassador on Romania’s integration into the Schengen Area: we need to weigh the information / This takes time

A statement by the Dutch ambassador in Bucharest, Roelof van Ees, seems to temper the optimism of some Romanian politicians about a rapid integration into the Schengen area. The Dutch official told Europa Liberă on Wednesday that an assessment requires updated information from the European Commission on „all relevant areas” for political decisions and that this „takes time”.

„When this information is available, we have to weigh that information, and at the political level. This takes time,” the response from the Dutch Embassy states.

In addition, Roelof van Ees continued, any decision by the Netherlands to approve Romania’s accession must also be accepted by the parliament in The Hague.

„The Dutch government will seek the prior approval of the Dutch parliament for a decision on Schengen accession,” Roelof van Ees said in a reply to Free Europe.

He added that the Dutch decision will take into account, in addition to the degree of border security, the progress made by Bucharest in the field of justice and the rule of law in Romania.

„The Dutch position on Schengen enlargement is simple: when the requirements are met, accession is possible. In order to be able to assess this, we need up-to-date information from the European Commission on all areas relevant for political decisions on Schengen accession,” the Dutch ambassador added.

The statements come on the day Prime Minister Mark Rutte visits Romania, where he will meet Dutch military at the „Getica” National Joint Training Centre in Cincu, together with President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă.

EU governments will vote in December on whether or not to grant Romania and Bulgaria Schengen membership, after more than a decade of delay.

A clear majority of MEPs support the lifting of border controls in the two countries and will vote on a resolution on the issue at the 17-20 October plenary session.

Translated from Romanian by Ovidiu H.