site.btaSeparating Bulgaria from Romania in Schengen Accession Is Not a Good Idea, Says Romanian President Iohannis

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday, prior to the summit of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Brussels, that he does not think that the separation of Romania from Bulgaria on the matter of Schengen accession is a good decision and defined such an option as a "last resort decision", Agerpres reported.

The issue with the Dutch vote has two solutions: either the Netherlands changes its choice and approves both Romania and Bulgaria, or it votes separately in favour of Romania and against Bulgaria, Iohannis said, arguing that the two countries entering Schengen together is preferable to the other option.

The Romanian President argued that Bulgaria, which is "not exactly a major European power" will remain alone in the face of the migrant wave, which he doesn’t see as a good decision.  The decision to separate would be a decision of last resort, but Iohannis and his team are not looking for such a solution, he said stressing that they are searching for  options so that the two countries enter Schengen together.  

The European procedures are very complex and allow for many different approaches, said the Romanian President, explaining that the Justice and Home Affairs Council  may distance the two countries in their accession process but not separate them. i.e. Romania may enter first, while Bulgaria may do so after that, but the vote should be general, only the terms of the actual entry and the conditions of inspection would be adapted for each country.

When asked if such a distancing will be on the agenda, Iohannis replied that this is yet to be seen from the many discussions and negotiations yet to take place with all involved.

He noted that Romania's accession to Schengen is possible in 2023.