The accession of our country to Schengen creates problems on a European and dilemmas on a national level. Can we or can we not live without Schengen? This is the main question which the current politicians, whether they are in the government or in the opposition, are repeatedly asking. The answers are completely opposite, depending on the political faction asking the question.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced that the Government does not want Germany to exert its veto right in the JHA (Justice and Home Affairs) council on the talk about the joining of Schengen. According to the Prime Minister, the Executive assumes responsibility for the change of the political strategy concerning Romania's European objectives: "We have acknowledged the decision made by the German minister of Internal Affairs, and it is therefore clear that on the Council of the JHA, if forced to, Germany will exercise its veto right. Our intention is not to get to the point where Germany exercises its veto right, because this is not what we are looking for. Our intention is to present once again at the JHA the reasons and the fulfillment of the technical criteria. If we get from Germany a clear point of view on what should be done in the future, it would be very good, I don't want to export Romanian problems to other countries and to other councils". Romania's European objectives must be treated as part of a new strategy, with a "realistic, pragmatic and dignified attitude", says Victor Ponta, who also mentioned that the Government will make a decision concerning the Schengen file: "The position of the government and of the USL is very clear, Romania's fundamental objectives of European integration remain unchanged. Obviously, we want to access the Schengen space, to access the Euro space, to be part of the banking union, of all the European developments. It is out of the question to cha