Schengen Eurobarometer on Thursday's Justice and Home Affairs Council agenda

Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu says in an online commentary that he has acted diplomatically over the last period to ensure that Romania receives strong signals of support at the JHA Council on Thursday for a positive decision by the end of this year to join the Schengen area.

He said he remains in permanent contact with the Hungarian presidency, the European Commission and EU interior ministers to promote this objective.

At recent meetings in Vienna, Prague and Munich, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu promoted Romania's entry into the Schengen area with land borders already this year.

He insisted on the merits and results of Romania in protecting national and EU borders, fighting illegal migration and the impeccable application of all Schengen systems and codes.

The minister said that Romania will continue to strengthen the security of its borders and that it is ready to apply all Schengen procedures, including border controls, when the situation requires it.

Catalin Predoiu also pointed out in his online commentary that the JHA Council will discuss the Schengen Eurobarometer, i.e. the situation in all member countries, without taking a decision on the enlargement of this area.

At the same time, the minister claims that he has acted diplomatically so that at this Council we receive strong signals of support for a positive decision by the end of this year, in other words, for this Council to be a preparatory one.

Catalin Predoiu also said that he will continue to remain in permanent contact with the Hungarian Presidency, the European Commission and the Interior Ministers of the European Union in order to promote Romania's objective of integration into the Schengen area.

Translated by: Radu Matei