BUCHAREST, Sept. 12 -- Visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday expressed his disapproval of Romania's accession to Schengen area, as a response to the country's request for support on the issue.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Viorica Dancila pleaded for the accession of Romania to Schengen in their separated meetings with Rutte, but the latter showed his disagreement.
"I underlined Romania's support for the more efficient management of the Union's external borders. In this context, I reiterated Romania's desire to join the Schengen area as soon as possible," Iohannis told a joint press conference after meeting with Rutte.
Dancila said at another press conference with Rutte that "Given that Romania meets the technical criteria regarding the accession to the Schengen area, which was confirmed by the European Commission, I asked the Dutch prime minister to support Romania.
"I strongly believe that Romania deserves to be in the Schengen area and that we do not have to link the issue of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to the Schengen criteria," she said.
Rutte offered a seemingly ambiguous response at the Presidential Palace, saying "I fully understand Romania's desire to join the Schengen area... we will see what the next steps will be, after the assessment to be made by The European Commission."
The Dutch prime minister was more straightforward when he spoke at the press conference with his Romanian counterpart.
"We do not agree on all points, such as Schengen, but it is true that we agree on many other issues," Rutte said, referring to the European project and bilateral relations.
The Netherlands is one of the countries that have opposed most the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area over the years.
Schengen accession has been a long process for Romania and Bulgaria, whose entry into the border-free area has been constantly delayed since 2011, despite Bucharest and Sofia authorities' claims that they had done all the needed preparations.
Currently, citizens of the two countries are allowed visa-free entry into the Schengen zone and there are eased accesses to Romania and Bulgaria for Schengen visa holders, but the two European Union member countries are not full members of the Schengen system.
The Schengen zone, which currently embraces 26 European countries, acknowledges the abolishment of their internal borders with other member nations and outside, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, goods, services and capital.
英语听力:第21届国际木偶节于成都开幕
李开复俞敏洪电视英语携手亮相 幽默教学
英语听力视频:西藏先心病儿童来京手术
这就是新东方英语篮球营的魅力
听力视频:詹姆斯卡梅隆做客北影 谈世界电影发展趋势
英语听力:从A到Z解读英国女王伊莉莎白二世
英语演讲:卓别林有史以来最伟大的演讲(双语视频)
英语听力视频:希腊传奇人物Manolis Glezos
双语视频:美国90后MM教你追女孩五大要点
英语听力:奥巴马在巴纳德学院毕业典礼上的讲话
视频:美国副总统拜登、国务卿克林顿设宴迎习近平访美
英语听力:世界厨王争霸赛在江苏举行
教师的烦恼(视频)
英语听力视频:美国小朋友怎么看哈利·波特
世界经济论坛东亚峰会即将在泰国举行
TED艺术类:从达尔文进化论解释美的体验
可口可乐含氯门曝光18天后道歉(视频)
英语听力:中国南方多地遭遇强降雨袭击
英语听力视频:现代版风马车远帆起航
英语视频听力:黄河壶口瀑布吸引游客前往
英语听力:世界最高电视塔在东京开放
英语听力视频:"最美女教师"张丽莉术后恢复
听力练习:考古学家在安阳古墓中发现完好无损壁画
英语视频听力:微博给中国带来的变化
英语听力:中国羽毛球男队完胜韩国 连续五夺汤姆斯杯
新东方杯口语大赛武汉赛区海选正式拉开帷幕
英语听力视频:防晒产品超高SPF是骗局?
柴静首次英语采访献给卡梅隆 被赞"强悍的访问者"
英语听力视频:摇滚巨星将参加伦敦奥运会
英语听力视频:新发现揭开2012年世界末日的神话
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |