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The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (debate)
The Schengen issue represents, for Romania and Bulgaria, not only a desideratum, part of the continuous integration into the EU, but also a statutory obligation that the other Member States have the duty to implement. For 11 years, Romania has met all the technical criteria for accession, but, together with Bulgaria, it is captive to the obsession, I would say, of some European states (fortunately, less and less), regarding the magnitude of corruption in the two countries. No one disputes that reality, but it was the case years ago; Currently, anti-corruption institutions in Romania are among the most functional and unanimously praised in Europe. As equal members of the European Union, with obligations and benefits, we cannot accept blackmail or abuse from colleagues who think they are more entitled in our common home. In these difficult times for the continent, Romania diligently and in good faith fulfills all its obligations, and even more. If we are further blocked from our rights, the viability of the European project will be called into question and the doors of anti-EU populism will be opened even more widely, especially in two eminently pro-European and pro-Euro-Atlantic states.