The Sweedish Presidency of the EU Council wants to put Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area on the council’s agenda
The Swedish presidency of the European Union Council wants to put the subject of Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area on the council’s agenda, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, has said. On Tuesday, he has submitted to the plenary session of the European Parliament, the priorities of Sweden’s presidency of the EU Council. Sweden’s first priority at the head of the European Union Council will be the security of Europe and support for Ukraine, which underlines the geopolitical significance of the European Union in an increasingly uncertain world, Prime Minister has said in the European Parliament. Another Swedish priority will be to uphold the common fundamental values of the European Union. At the end of the three-hour debate, after the Romanian MEPs in Strasbourg raised the issue of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, the Prime Minister of Sweden has replied that he understands the disappointment of Romania and Bulgaria and that Sweden is ready to put this issue on the agenda of the European Union Council.
NATO deploys AWACS surveillance planes in Romania
Two AWACS surveillance aircraft landed on Tuesday at Air Base 90 in Otopeni, near Bucharest. Three such planes, usually based in Germany, will be deployed to Romania for several weeks. Since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, AWACS aircraft have been conducting regular patrols in Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian aircraft near NATO borders, the Ministry of National Defense has recently said. In response to Russia’s illegal aggression in Ukraine, NATO has increased its air presence on the Alliance’s eastern flank with additional fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and air tankers, the Ministry said. AWACS aircraft will perform reconnaissance and surveillance flights on the territory of NATO states in the next period.
Romania has dealt flawlessly with the unprecedented situation triggered by the war in Ukraine, President Iohannis has said
Romania has dealt flawlessly with the unprecedented situation at the border of the European Union and NATO, triggered by the war started by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis has said on Tuesday, at the annual meeting with heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Romania. Also, the head of state has said that 2023 should bring the well-deserved accession of the country to the Schengen area. President Klaus Iohannis has underlined that the profile of Romania has grown exponentially at regional, European and global level, after being actively involved in managing the situation at the border with Ukraine. The president recalled the support given to Ukrainian refugees, as well as the facilitation of grain transit from the neighboring country to vulnerable areas. The year that has just begun will not be easy, the Romanian President also said and added that the country’s ability to respond to challenges will continue to be tested.
Klaus Iohannis: Romania’s response to the crisis caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will continue to be multidimensional and comprehensive. We will continue to support Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, including their European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, as appropriate. Romania will provide all the support, as long as it is necessary.
On the other hand, President Klaus Iohannis has emphasized that the successful conclusion of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in 2022 must be completed this year with the well-deserved accession to the Schengen area, as, in his opinion, Romania is ready from all points of view.
Mădălina Brotăcel, RADOR/mbrotacel
