The decision has sparked protests within the European Parliament. MEPs feel they are being brushed aside from the decision-making processes of great concern to EU citizens. In a press release made public after the meeting of the main political factions, European Parliament President Martin Schultz was highly critical of the ministers’ unilateral and counterproductive attitude, labeling their decision as a step backwards.

The EU official warned that free movement was one of the pillars of the European Union and that Parliament would veto the reintroduction of border controls, unless a community-based monitoring mechanism was made available to member states. At first, Romania rejected the amendment brought to the legal basis of the Schengen evaluation mechanism. Belgium and Luxembourg, alongside the European Commission subsequently joined in the chorus of opposition. Eventually, Romania sided with the other member states. The Head of the Schengen department, Marian Tutilescu represented Romania at the negotiations table:

“Romania has made it clear it has no intention and will not break any consensus regarding the political agreement to introduce the measure package on Schengen governance. This measure package is key to the well-functioning of the Schengen area, and, for that matter, to Romania’s Schengen accession”.

Romanian authorities have again called on the EU to provide legal rather than political arguments when assessing Romania and Bulgaria’s bid to join the Schengen area, arguing that in technical terms, the two countries are ready to join. Both Romania and Bulgaria were hoping to enter Schengen in March 2011. The final decision was repeatedly blocked by France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland after voicing concerns linked to unsatisfactory progress the two countries had made in fighting corruption and organized crime.

The Netherlands continues to oppose the two countries’ accession, pending a positive assessment of Romania’s judiciary based on the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification. As of July 1st, Cyprus will take the reins of the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, and Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession ranks high on their agenda.