After many months of back and forth on the issue of Bulgaria and Romania joining the European Union’s open-border Schengen area, EU President Herman Van Rompoy told reporters recently an agreement should be reached by September. During a one day trip to both countries, Van Rompoy met with Romanian President Traian Băsescu, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov to table a number of issues.
Traian Basescu
Romania Reacts to Schengen Veto with Dismay
Romanian President Traian Basescu has hit out at the Netherlands for vetoing his country’s bid to join the Schengen Zone, accusing them of committing “abuse” amidst rumors that Dutch opposition could be linked to Romania’s earlier block on Serbian accession to the EU.
The Return of Romania’s King
In the news this morning, King Michael I of Romania, the monarch who abdicated his throne back in 1947, is to address Parliament in Bucharest today. In honor of the former king’s 90th birthday, Romania’s Liberal Party invited Michael to speak and celebrate the auspicious occasion there.