Brussels, 17/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Since the beginning of 2011, Romania has tracked down 190 individuals subject to the international arrest warrant (there was a European arrest warrant for 36 of these suspects). On Sunday 16 January, the Romanian police (in a press release quoted by AFP) announced that these individuals had been identified by the Schengen Information System (SIS). The Romanian police also confiscated “66 articles that had been reported stolen or which could be used in evidence for investigations in other countries”, including France and Germany. Twenty-three people being sought by the Romanian police and identified by the SIS were also tracked down by Schengen area member states (area in which EU nationals can enjoy free movement). In total, “250 people being searched for internationally and identified by the Schengen Information System were tracked down through the exchange of information” between the Romanian police and Schengen area member states. Romania is not a member of the system but does have police access to the SIS and cooperates with other states by regularly assessing the effectiveness of this kind of cooperation. On Friday14 January EU27 representatives held discussions in Brussels on how to help adapt Romania and Bulgaria to this information system. This adaptation will partly decide whether they can join the Schengen Area (EUROPE 10294). (S.P./transl.fl)