Brussels, 07/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - Meeting on 7 December under the chairmanship of Antoine Dusquesne, the EU's Home Affairs Ministers decided to implement the visa exemption for Romanian nationals from 1 January 2002. This decision was also approved by the Joint committee with Iceland and Norway.
"Romanians will now travel without visas throughout the Schengen area. But before this decision taken through unanimity takes actual effect, it has to be published in the Official Journal of the EC. We hope that this publication will not be delayed", declared a happy Ioan Rus, Romanian Home Affairs Minister. "European ministers were able to note progress and concrete commitments made by Romania in its legislation and regulation so as to guarantee border security and prevent illegal immigration in EU Member States. This decision is the outcome of the work of the current Romanian Government and we hope that it will be an example for the future", Mr. Rus added, noting in particular the waiving of the Austrian reservation on the subject. He then explained that this followed the agreement signed some time back with his Austrian counterpart, Ernst Strasser on the readmission of stateless people, the goal being especially to reduce the trafficking in human beings and settle the problems of asylum. The minister recalled that Romania had already such bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal, and that it was contemplating in future signing ones with all the countries where Romanians were present. "All this is very important but not as important as that of being able to move freely in Europe", Iaon Rus concluded.
In its declaration, the Council states that "it will pay special attention to the consequences of internal security and illegal immigration in Member States", as well as to the following aspects: 1) control of borders made on entry, transit and exit; 2) visa policy; 3) travel documents and identity cards; 4) laws and other legal provisions on nationality and stateless persons; 5) readmission of national of third countries illegally staying in the Member States; 6) economic and social dimension.
"To be able to leave their country, Romanian citizens must be able to prove that they have health-insurance, a return ticket and a sum of money of 100 euro a day", the Romanian Minister of state for home affairs, Alexandru Fracas, added.