France and Germany yesterday sent a letter to the EuropeanCommission, asking for the postponement of Romania's and Bulgaria'saccession to the Schengen area (an area without border checks), agesture received with bewilderment in Bucharest and which will havemajor political consequences, as well as in terms of Romania'scredibility.
President Traian Băsescu accused Paris and Berlin of discriminatingagainst Romanians, with his cutting remarks indicating that thesituation, unanticipated a few months ago, will lead to acontinuing worsening of the relationship between Bucharest and thetwo capitals, which have already been colder than ever in the pastfew years.
Analysts say the postponement of the decision to accede is TraianBăsescu's biggest foreign policy failure, especially since joiningthe Schengen area was by no means as big a hurdle as joining NATOor the EU. In fact it was a normal and formal step in continuationof the two already achieved goals.
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