20 Jun 2011

Romania Needs to Continue Fighting Corruption to Join Schengen Area

German State Secretary for the Interior Ministry, Ole Schröder (pictured here), commented last week on Romania’s chances to join the Schengen area in October, saying that Romania needed to continue fighting organized crime and corruption.

Mr. Schröder furthermore said that Romania’s pursuance of corruption among customs officials was a step in the right direction and that a sentence was sorely needed in the case.

Even if Romania fulfilled all of the technical requirements to join the area, widespread corruption in the country would make many countries hesitant in extending freedom of movement via accession to the Schengen Agreement.

For the original article from Hotnews.ro, please click here.

The photo of Mr. Schröder comes courtesy of the Hamburger Abendblatt (article in German).