The arrest operation of customs and police officers at the Siret customs, North Romania proves that in Romania there are the necessary resorts to fight against corruption but we are looking forward to see how judicial procedures will continue and if there will be any sentencing, Finnish European Affairs minister Astrid Thors declared quoted by Romanian news agency Agerpres.
Moreover, the Finnish official underlined that the Helsinki government supports Romania and Bulgaria’s adhesion to Schengen but any decision of this kind needs to take into account all relevant factors. The ball is in the Hungarian Presidency’s hands and that of the European Council which depends on the March re-evaluation of Bulgaria, the official said.
The minister said that Finland wishes to see the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in place but this is a separate matter than the Schengen adhesion. On February 3rd, 2011 about 60 customs and police officers from the Siret customs, North Romania, were arrested for corruption and cigarettes smuggling. Officials said that such operations will continue.
