Commission to push for lifting EU visas for Romanians (and progress child reform)

Commission to push for lifting EU visas for Romanians

24 okt. 2001 (updated: 29 jan. 2010)

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The Commission’s chief enlargement negotiator, Mr Eneko Landaburu, said the Commission would push for the EU’s Justice Council of 6-7 December to lift the visa requirement for Romanian citizens travelling to the EU from 1 January 2002 on.

“Romania is on the right track towards EU accession,” said Mr Landaburu during his visit to Romania. He said that Romania has improved its macro-economic framework and progressed in adopting EU legislation. Mr Landaburu added that “this is leading to a general increase in the credibility of Romania’s application for membership of the EU and will be reflected in the regular report of the Commission”.

Mr Landaburu noted the positive developments in economic indicators registered during the first semester of 2001, including a 5.1 percent GDP growth (as compared to 1.6 percent in 2000) and inflation roughly in line with the government’s target of 29 percent (compared to 40 percent in 2000).

The challenge, the EU official underlined, was to maintain this progress by:

further reducing inflation,

reducing the trade balance and current accounts deficits,

attracting increased foreign direct investment by improving the business climate,

improving tax collection.

Mr Landabutu welcomed the progress registered in child protection reform, a sector on which he had expressed deep concerns during his last visit in Romania in 2000. He stressed that the improvement of the functioning of public administration was of key importance. It was this that would largely determine the rhythm of the negotiation process with a performant public administration capable of not only transposing legislation but also actually implementing it as a key requisite for accession.

In his talks with his Romanian interlocutors, Mr. Landaburu insisted that future efforts should focus on two key aspects:

Consolidation of the macro-economic situation;

Improvement of public administration.