France reaffirms its conviction that Romania needs to join Schengen and French authorities are willing to help Romania comply with all technical requirements, French Interior minister Claude Gueant declared, quoted by Romanian news agency Mediafax.

Gueant declared that the delegation he runs will visit Romania under the cooperation sign announced by the French and Romanian Presidents. The French minister said that he talked about Romania’s joining Schengen and police cooperation with his Romanian counterpart, Traian Igas.

Gueant said that France re-affirms its conviction that Romania needs to join Schengen. The French Interior minister said that Romania complied with a series of technical criteria following that the perspective of the adhesion to be discussed in the Council. According to the French official, France is willing to help Romania to comply with all requirements.

France is aware that Romanian authorities made considerable technical efforts, Gueant said. When asked whether Romania has a chance to join Schengen in 2011 he said he cannot predict in the name of the 27 EU member states.