Brussels, 31/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, visiting Bucharest on Monday 30 May, assured Romanian President Traian Basescu that Italy was working to ensure Romania's entry to the Schengen area before the end of 2011, the ANSA agency reports. Berlusconi spoke of his government's “decisive action” on behalf of Romanian accession.
“We desperately wanted Romania to join the EU and we now stand four-square with you so that you can become fully fledged members”, Berlusconi said, giving assurances that the two countries had “overcome their disagreements of two or three years ago” over the Romanian community in Italy. Romania still hopes to be able, along with Bulgaria, to join the Schengen area in 2011, but a number of member states, such as France, Germany and the Netherlands, oppose their accession. The Commission will publish the latest report of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification in July. This report will take stock of the progress made by the two countries in tackling corruption and in judicial reform. Some member states, however, also want Schengen rules and governance to be toughened before accession by Romania and Bulgaria is considered. This toughening was supported by Italy in a joint letter with France on 26 April. (S.P./transl.rt)