SAARBRÜCKEN (dpa-AFX) – “Saarbrücker Zeitung” on full Schengen status for Romania/Bulgaria:
“The full inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area was overdue. (.) Although Schengen freedom was already in effect at the airport in Bucharest, trucks were backed up at the border with Austria for hours – a burden on the economy. And a problem for Europe’s credibility. Because the Romanians, who not only put themselves at the service of their EU partners to protect the border, but also as a bridge to the beleaguered Ukraine, had to perceive this as ingratitude and harassment. “We need success stories” – this is also how Romania’s Foreign Minister and pro-European Luminita Odobescu (.) justified her push for a Schengen change. The recent, astonishing election successes of EU opponents in Romania could be evidence that Brussels is using this success in Bucharest denied for too long.”/yyzz/DP/nas