Britain supports Romania’s accession to Schengen Area
Great Britain’s ambassador to Romania, Martin Harris, declared on Radio Romania International that the UK has ‘a strong interest in EU external border security’.
Articol de Bogdan Mihai, 04 Februarie 2011, 10:52
The Great Britain’s ambassador to Romania, Martin Harris, declared in an interview for Radio Romania International that he will support the development of the economic relationship between Romania and the United Kingdom and also promote trade between the two countries.
From an economic perspective, he estimated that 2010 had been a difficult year for both Romania and the United Kingdom.
The ambassador said that, given that many small companies in the United Kingdom need to export and to find new markets, attention turns toward Romania, which has a ‘great potential’ market.
‘The volume of trade between the two countries increased by 35 percent and now has reached the highest level since Romania joined the European Union.’
‘I think that both sides are beginning to see the benefits of the EU membership: is much easier for the two countries to make trade and many companies are beginning to take advantage of that’, Martin Harris declared.
He noted that strong growth of exports made by the two countries represent a solution to come out of recession.
Joining Schengen
Ambassador Martin Harris said that Britain supports Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, in a context where the United Kingdom has a strong interest in border security.
‘We work closely with Romanian authorities to combat cigarette smuggling and trafficking’.
‘We cooperated very well with the Romanian authorities and assist Romania in securing its borders to meet the standards required by the Schengen agreement’, Martin Harris said.
He considered that Romania has made ‘great progress’ and added that our country is the main challenge for authorities to seize the benefits of the European Union and NATO membership.
Investment opportunities in Romania
Ambassador Martin Harris said that the UK has many companies with experience who could provide assistance to Romania in infrastructure development, to bring them to EU standards.
He added that the United Kingdom could provide support Romania in the field of public private partnership.
Martin Harris stressed that the two countries have common views on many issues, including reducing the budget deficit, expanding European Union and maintain security in Afghanistan.
Translated by: Andreea Negrea
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University.
