Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-01-Speech-4-060"
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"en.20010301.3.4-060"2
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".
In accordance with Article 62(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, a Draft Council Regulation, the drawing up of which was a sensitive issue, was presented to the European Parliament for consultation. It lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when they wish to enter the European Union, as well as the countries that are exempt from this requirement for visas for stays of up to three months.
The case of Romania, which is situated somewhere between the above two examples, was a difficult matter. In theory, Romania should be included in the second list as an applicant country with which accession talks have commenced. Unfortunately, however, it appears that a stricter attitude may be needed, since illegal immigrants living in several European countries originate from Romania. The Council found quite a neat solution to this problem. It allows Romania to appear in the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirements, but Article 8 of the draft regulation specifies that this provision will only come into force when Romania has indicated which “undertakings it is prepared to enter into on illegal immigration and illegal residence, including the repatriation of persons from that country who are illegally resident”.
I believe that this condition is crucial. It has, however, been removed following the amendments that the European Parliament has just approved, not because of any particular affection for Romania, which might have been understandable, but in the spirit of encouraging unchecked freedom of movement which is seen all too often. Parliament voted in favour of several other amendments of less importance but I cannot accept them either.
Given the circumstances, I refused to vote in favour of the European Parliament report, but I continue to support the Council’s initial position."@en1
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