Romania may join Schengen in two steps next year, says President

Romania may join the European Union’s passport-free travel system in two steps next year pending Dutch approval, President Traian Basescu said today.

The 25-nation Schengen Area, named for the Luxembourg town in which the accord was signed, may open its marine and air borders to Romania in March and land borders in June or July, Basescu said. Before that, the Balkan nation must reach an agreement with the Netherlands, which has opposed its entry because of corruption concerns, Basescu said.