PSD MEP Victor Negrescu declared, on Monday, on Prima News, that “the chances of succeeding in entering Schengen this year are lower than last year, but we have to play our cards until the last moment”, and the fact that the subject is on the December JAI Council agenda helps us. “It’s a bit difficult, that’s why we have to be careful, be very insistent and here we need Romania to be united on all political levels”, he states.
“It is very good that the subject of Schengen remains high on the European agenda and that the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union keeps its word, setting a date for this discussion, but the final form of the agenda wishes to be set on December 1, when it takes place the meeting of the Ambassadors of the EU states. Then the agenda of the JAI council is made. Until then, things are playing out”, said Victor Negrescu in the Romania Politica show from Prima News.
Negrescu showed that “a crucial moment is the elections in the Netherlands on November 22”.
“If the pro-European parties will win, then we have a chance for the Netherlands to change its position and stop opposing the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area and for Austria to remain alone. Moreover, the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte is going to pay a visit to Bulgaria, right after the elections, and we could hope that that visit will send a positive message in this regard”, the MEP emphasized.
Negrescu specified that, “if Austria remains alone, then with the European partners, we can exert additional pressure so that Austria changes its vote”.
“Last year, Austria started opposing Romania’s accession only a few days before the JHA meeting. There will be tough discussions”, said Victor Negrescu, indicating that he will go to Austria on Thursday to talk with several representatives of the Government and present additional arguments.
“Romania meets all the criteria, so we have to force this, being at the same time weighted, balanced, because I think the chances of succeeding this year are lower than last year, but we have to play our cards until the last moment and the fact that it is on the agenda helps us”, said Victor Negrescu, pointing out that “we are closer to the electoral moment, and the political interests are much wider”.
Negrescu also stated that there are also good August events that happened in the last week, that resolution of the European socialists, but also a message for the area of the European populists, of which the Chancellor of Austria is a part.
“It’s a bit difficult, that’s why we have to be cautious, to be very insistent and here we need Romania to be united on all political levels”, said Victor Negrescu.
Editor: Loredana Bancas
