Romanian hopes for Schengen decision on October 23

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has vowed to closely monitor the European Council summit on Sunday 23 October, adding that he expects a vote to be held on Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen bids.

On Thursday Boc acknowledged that both countries were facing certain political obstacles to their Schengen entry but said that he would rely on the support voiced by the European Parliament.

The Romanian Prime Minister explained that the only clear expression of support for the two Schengen candidate countries at that point came from the European Parliament, which passed a second resolution calling for the final approval of Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the border-free area on October 13.

The expansion of the border-free zone, however, is not on the agenda of the October 23 meeting of EU leaders.